伊迪丝·华顿|The Age of Innocence纯真年代

The novel mostly takes place during the 1870s, which formed the beginning of the American Gilded Age, a period of rapid economic growth that earned its name by glossing over serious social problems with the appearance of great success. This dynamic proceeded in part from serious wealth inequality; The Age of Innocence deals solely with the very wealthy portion of society. However, Wharton wrote the book immediately after World War I, so it’s influenced by this retrospective view of the 1870s. World War I obviously caused worldwide horror and tragedy, making the concerns of the coddled New York upper class seem especially foolish. At the same time, readers might have been almost wistful for this “age of innocence” in which people could afford to worry about matters of social propriety rather than about terrifying new weapons. Furthermore, Wharton’s comments on Americans’ views of foreigners might be influenced by the fact that the United States abstained from World War I for three years, maintaining a policy of isolationism. The American characters in The Age of Innocence largely distrust foreigners and are not at all keen to mix with them.