# The Age of Innocence — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

- [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/book-i.md): The chapter introduces Newland Archer in his elite New York social circle, attending the opera where he sees the arrival of his fiancée May Welland and her cousin, the scandalous Countess Ellen Olenska. Archer's internal
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/i.md): On a January evening of the early 1870s, Newland Archer arrives late at the Academy of Music in New York for a performance of Faust. He observes the social rituals of his class, including the critical judgment of Lawrenc
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/ii.md): Newland Archer is embarrassed and annoyed to find his fiancée May Welland seated at the opera next to her cousin, the scandalous Countess Ellen Olenska. He reflects on the audacity of old Mrs. Manson Mingott, the family 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/iii.md): At the Beauforts' annual ball, Newland Archer arrives late and finds May Welland and her mother announcing their engagement. He dances with May, and they share a private moment in the conservatory. May asks him to tell h
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/iv.md): The betrothal visits are exchanged according to New York's rigid social ritual. Newland Archer, his mother, and sister call on Mrs. Welland, then he, Mrs. Welland, and May visit old Mrs. Manson Mingott. The visit is a su

> 31 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_age_of_innocence_690kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/v.md)
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/vi.md)
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/vii.md)
- [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/viii.md)
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/ix.md)
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/x.md)
- [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xi.md)
- [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xii.md)
- [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xiii.md)
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xiv.md)
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xv.md)
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xvi.md)
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xvii.md)
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xviii.md)
- [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/book-ii.md)
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xix.md)
- [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xx.md)
- [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxi.md)
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxii.md)
- [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxiii.md)
- [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxiv.md)
- [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxv.md)
- [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxvi.md)
- [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxvii.md)
- [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxviii.md)
- [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxix.md)
- [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxx.md)
- [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxxi.md)
- [Chapter XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxxii.md)
- [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxxiii.md)
- [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxxiv.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters