这是一个发生在十九世纪纽约上流社会的爱情故事，年轻律师纽兰特·亚契决定要跟规矩的富家女梅·韦兰结婚，但当她那失婚的表姐艾伦·奥兰丝卡从欧洲返乡后，纽兰特被她的成熟迷人风韵所吸引，婚事出现了危机。梅为了挽救自己的婚姻前途，暗中玩手段欺骗纽兰特，令他悬崖勒马。多年以后真相才得以大白，但已空留回忆……本书为其原版作品，在1921年曾获得普立兹文学奖。

The return of the beautiful Countess Olenska into the rigidly conventional society of New York sends reverberations throughout the upper reaches of society. Newland Archer, an eligible young man of the establishment, is about to announce his engagement to May Welland, a pretty ingenue, when May"s cousin, Countess Olenska, is introduced into their circle. The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of scandal, having left her husband and claimed her independence. Her sorrowful eyes, her tragic worldliness and her air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland. Ahnost against their will, a passionate bond develops between them. But Archer"s life has no place for passion, and, with society on the side of May and all she stands for, he finds himself drawn into a bitter conflict between love and duty.