The Age of Innocence is a novel by Edith Wharton about adultery in 1870s New York, presenting a tension between romance and commitment. Newland Archer is engaged to May Welland when May's more free-spirited sister Ellen arrives from Europe. After Ellen is unable to divorce her husband for Newland, Newland marries May. Living in a loveless marriage, Newland finally decides to leave May for Ellen, who is returning to Europe. However, his wife informs him that she is pregnant and he remains with her to raise his children instead.
Boasting the largest collection of book summaries, BookRags is the best option for titles you can't find elsewhere. They offer all of the basics (quotes, chapter summary, characters, historical context, literary criticism) but also walk through a few major topics that recur throughout the book, which can be particularly useful for essay writing.
Boasting the largest collection of book summaries, BookRags is the best option for titles you can't find elsewhere. They offer all of the basics (quotes, chapter summary, characters, historical context, literary criticism) but also walk through a few major topics that recur throughout the book, which can be particularly useful for essay writing.
The most popular website for book notes. SparkNotes was created by students for students, and their summaries are accessible and extremely well-written. Besides the usual plot overview, chapter summaries, and character analysis, SparkNotes differentiates itself with a section discussing themes, motifs, and symbols.
The original provider of professionally-written study guides, Cliffs Notes were available in print form before the Internet even existed. Their content is very comprehensive and includes an analysis of characters, detailed chapter by chapter summaries, critical essays, essay topics, and many other sections.
You won't get any frills with GradeSaver -- just the content you expect. Their study guides include a full plot summary, themes and character analysis, study questions, and the e-text of the book. One hidden gem is their collection of literature essays, but you'll have to pay for it.
This is a good choice if you're looking for a quick read or refresher rather than an in-depth analysis. You'll get a brief book summary and chapter by chapter breakdown. The website loads quickly with minimal advertising.