The Age of Innocence

Newland Archer gentleman lawyer and heir to one of New York Citys best families is happily anticipating a highly desirable marriage to the sheltered and beautiful May Welland. Yet he finds reason to doubt his choice of bride after the appearance of Countess Ellen Olenska Mays exotic and beautiful 30-year-old cousin. Ellen has returned to New York from Europe after scandalously separating herself (per rumor) from a bad marriage to a Polish count. At first Ellens arrival and its potential taint on the reputation of his bride-to-bes family disturb Newland but he becomes intrigued by the worldly Ellen who flouts New York societys fastidious rules. As Newlands admiration for the countess grows so does his doubt about marrying May a perfect product of Old New York society; his match with May no longer seems the ideal fate he had imagined.