《純真年代》是在第一次世界大戰結束後寫於法國的作品，於1920的一本雜誌上連載。當時華頓已經是知名作家，出過一些小說與短篇小說。這部小說的時空背景設於美國的鍍金時代（Gilded Age），時間上始於1870年代，最後隨著1914年的戰爭而告終。

本書的地點則設定在紐約的上層階級社會，事實上這也是華頓對自己年少生活的回顧。華頓出身於紐約上層家庭，生活中充滿舞會、舞蹈和嚴格死板的規矩。在鍍金年代，銀行家和投資者變得深具影響力，是紐約市開始快速成長的年代，社會由有權有勢的家族掌控，他們有牢固的傳統和嚴格的不成文慣例。

《純真年代》透過家族故事、男女婚戀等主題，呈現出大時代的背景、社會價值、世俗道德，並用細膩的筆觸描繪出微妙的心理與情感。書中除了用批判的眼光來看待上層階級社會，並瀰漫著一股哀傷，懷念著因為第一次世界大戰爆發所失去的純真。華頓自己的生命經驗，從她早期的回憶到她失敗的婚姻，也都反映在小說中。

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Wharton wrote The Age of Innocence in France, just after World War I. She was an established writer at the time and had already published a number of novels and novellas. The title refers to a period in American history which had come to an end with the war in 1914.

Indeed, in the book she looks back on her childhood and teenage years in the high society of New York in the 1870s, with its balls, dances and rigid rules. The 1870s in America is also called the Gilded Age: a time when bankers and investors became influential, and the city of New York began to grow rapidly. At that time, society was controlled by powerful families who had strong traditions and strict yet often unwritten rules.

The novel tells the story of the engagement and marriage of May Welland and Newland Archer, and the arrival of Ellen Olenska, the bride’s cousin from Europe. Ellen’s presence leads to a series of complications and threatens the couple’s marriage.

Wharton looks back on this age with irony but without judging any of the characters’ intentions and actions. Apart from her criticism of the workings of upper-class society, there is a pervading sense of sadness over the loss of innocence brought about by World War 1. Wharton’s own life experiences are reflected in the novel from her early memories, to her unsuccessful marriage.

The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 and inspired several film adaptations, including the renowned 1993 film directed by Martin Scorsese starring Daniel-Day Lewis, Winona Ryder and Michelle Pfeiffer.