The Age of Innocence

The time is 1873, the place New York City. The players are the city's wealthiest, who live from one elegant dinner party to the next, while exacting a stiff code of conduct for themselves and those like them. Among these people is Newland Archer, just engaged to May Welland when the Countess Olenska returns after 14 years in Europe. Newland falls for her. Will he break the code and run away with her? Wharton's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is superbly read by Alyssa Bresnahan, who renders Newland, May, and the Countess as unforgettable characters. She is equally able with dozens of minor figures. Bresnahan is particularly adept at portraying Newland Archer's dilemma: a choice between love of honor and love for a woman. Bresnahan's reading is thoroughly empathetic. T.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine