Henry James is an acquired
taste. He writes in
an elegant, leisurely
style and deals in the
smaller subtleties of
moral life. He wrote
relentlessly, copiously,
and almost all of his
work is first rate.
His stories and novellas
are just as good as
his better-known novels;
and he was also a major
theorist of the novel
and a perceptive critic.
In his later work he
begins to explore the
interesting possibilities
of 'unreliable narrators'
- that is, people telling
stories who may not
know or reveal the whole
truth.
You should begin with
something shorter and
written early, such
as The
Europeans or
Washington Square.
His prose style became
increasingly, mannered
and baroque, as he explored
the subtleties and moral
complexities of social
life in ever-increasing
detail.
Washington
Square is a superb
early short novel -
the tale of a young
girl whose future happiness
is being controlled
by her strict father.
She has a handsome young
suitor - but her father
disapproves. There is
a battle of wills -
all within the confines
of their elegant town
house. Who wins out
in the end? You will
be surprised. A beautifully
written novel, James
has created a small
masterpiece of social
commentary here, with
a sensitive presentation
of a woman's life.
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The
Aspern Papers
is a psychological drama
set in Venice which
centres on the tussle
for control of a great
writer's correspondence.
The elderly widow of
the writer seeks a husband
for her daughter, whereas
the potential purchaser
of the papers is a dedicated
bachelor. Money is also
at stake - but of course
not discussed overtly.
There is a refined battle
of wills between them.
Who wins out? The novella
is a masterpiece of
subtle narration, with
an ironic twist in the
outcome.
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The
Turn of the Screw
is a classic ghost story
which defies interpretation.
A governess is in charge
of two children in a
remote country house
who appear to be haunted
by former employees
who are now supposed
to be dead. But are
they? The story is drenched
in complexities - including
the central issue of
the reliability of the
person who is telling
the tale. This can be
seen as a subtle, self-conscious
exploration of the haunted
house of Victorian culture,
filled with echoes of
sexual and social unease.
Or is it simply, "the
most hopelessly evil
story that we have ever
read"? The collection
also includes James's
other ghost stories
- 'Sir Edmund Orme',
'Owen Wingrave', and
'The Friends of the
Friends'
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What
Masie Knew A
young girl is caught
between parents who
are in the middle of
conflict, adultery,
and divorce. Can she
survive without becoming
corrupted? It's touch
and go - and not made
easier for the reader
by the attentions of
an older man who decides
to 'look after' her.
This comes from the
beginning of James's
'Late Phase', so be
prepared for longer
and longer sentences.
In fact it's said that
whilst writing this,
James switched from
longhand to dictation
- and it shows - part
way through the book.
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The
Spoils of Poynton
is a short novel which
centres on the contents
of a country house,
and the question of
who is the most desirable
person to inherit it
via marriage. Forced
to leave her home to
make way for her son
and his uncultured fiancee,
Mrs. Gereth develops
a subtle plan to take
as many of the house's
priceless furnishings
with her as possible.
Some very witty social
ironies, and a contest
of wills which matches
nouveau-riche greed
against selfless high
principles. Spectacular
finale in which nobody
wins out.
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The
Portrait of a Lady
is regarded as the masterpiece
of James's middle period.
Isabel Archer, a young
American woman with
looks, wit, and imagination,
arrives to discover
Europe. She sees the
world as "a place of
brightness, of free
expression, of irresistible
action". Turning aside
from suitors who offer
her their wealth and
devotion, she follows
her own path. But that
way leads to disillusionment
and a future as constricted
as "a dark narrow alley
with a dead wall at
the end". James explores
one of his favourite
themes - the Old World
in contest with the
New. In a conclusion
that is one of the most
moving in modern fiction,
Isabel makes her final
choice.
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The
Wings of the Dove
This is one of the late,
great masterpieces.
Quite apart from the
famous baroque prose
style, it features many
of James's main themes.
American innocence pitched
against European cunning.
A complex love triangle
which strains at the
limits of what is acceptable.
A setting of Venice
that includes the usual
correlatives of disease
and death. And a social
depth which is more-than-usually
concerned with issues
of money, social status,
and class mobility.
Details
& orders at Amazon.co.uk
Details
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