by Edith Wharton, 1921 Pulitzer Prize
Unrequited love – New York society, late 1800s
Newland Archer marries May Welland but is in love with Countess Olenska. She bucks the trends but refuses to lead him astray. He remains faithful to his wife. After her death, he and son go to Europe and he can visit Countess Olenska in Paris. His son does, after telling his dad that May (his Mom) knew all about his Dad’s love for Countess Olenska and knew he gave it up for her. He sits outside her apartment on a Paris bench while his son goes up to visit her. He turns away and leaves. Last paragraph: “At that, as if it had been the signal he waited for, Newland Archer got up slowly and walked back alone to his hotel.”