The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Wharton does a spectacular job of depicting New York high society in the late 1800's.  This setting was one of my favorite things about this novel.  The story line is occasionally soap-operaesque, but it is still entertaining.  Then ending is rather sad, so be prepared.  I enjoyed this book, but it sometimes got rather long, and I ended up reading some fluffier material before I finished it.