伊迪絲·華頓（Edith Wharton, 1862-1937）是紐約一個名門望族瓊斯傢的女兒。和她的朋友亨利·詹姆斯一樣，她在傢中接受瞭良好的教育，後來多次齣國旅行。1885年她和一個比她大十三歲的有錢的波士頓人愛德華·華頓結瞭婚。此人性格雖好，但他們卻很少共同之處，幾年以後，愛德華患瞭精神病，最終導緻瞭他們的離婚，從此以後，伊迪絲長住巴黎，直到1937年去世。

伊迪絲·華頓起初是為瞭排遣上流社會傢庭生活的苦悶而開始寫作的。她從1880年開始發錶小說，1889年第一部短篇小說集問世，獲得瞭意外的成功。1905年長篇小說《快樂之傢》齣版，使她成瞭20世紀前二十年最受歡迎的美國作傢。1920年齣版的《純真年代》為她獲得瞭普利策奬。她一共寫瞭十九部中長篇小說，齣版過十一本短篇小說集，還有大量的非小說作品。

Age of Innocence , by Edith Wharton , is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics : New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.

Winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize, The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton ’s masterful portrait of desire and betrayal during the sumptuous Golden Age of old New York, a time when society people “dreaded scandal more than disease.”

This is Newland Archer’s world as he prepares to marry the beautiful but conventional May Welland. But when the mysterious Countess Ellen olenska returns to New York after a disastrous marriage, Archer falls deeply in love with her. Torn between duty and passion, Archer struggles to make a decision that will either courageously define his life—or mercilessly destroy it.

Maureen Howard is a critic, teacher, and writer of fiction. Her seven novels include Bridgeport Bus , Natural History , and A Lover’s Almanac . Her memoir, Facts of Life , won the National Book Critics’ Circle Award. She has taught at Yale and Columbia University.