The Innocents: A Story for Lovers

"The Innocents: A Story for Lovers" by Sinclair Lewis is a story about Mr. and Mrs. Seth Appleby, an older couple looking back on their young love as they try to create a fresh start running a tea-room on Cape Cod. They cherish the ease of love and friendship, facing the ups and downs of chasing after their dreams while dealing with what society expects and what they want for themselves. We see the Applebys going about their everyday routines, showing the love and playful teasing in their long marriage. Their ordinary but lovely life in New York City is set against their dreams of a vacation and a new business. Hoping to leave their old lives behind, the husband suggests opening a summer tea-room, and the couple gets more and more excited about the freedom and adventure that waits for them on Cape Cod. Through their funny mistakes and the problems caused by where they are, the first parts of the story build the foundation for a deeper look at who they are, their love, and the tough truths that people face when they go after what they want.