The summer challenge offered an option to read books of fewer than 100 pages and it was an offer I couldn't refuse! That I could find an author I've bThe summer challenge offered an option to read books of fewer than 100 pages and it was an offer I couldn't refuse! That I could find an author I've been neglecting was a bonus. At something around 80 pages, it is far too short for much a review. First published in 1874, this is one of James' earlier published works. I have not read enough by him to say definitively, but it seems he had not yet developed the writing style many think of as being "difficult".
The GR description of one edition includes: The story centers on the troubled marriage of a scrupulous American wife and a far from scrupulous French husband, and is told mostly from the point of view of a male friend of the wife. There was some background on how the French man and American woman came to be married. It was obvious they had much different ideas on how a marriage should be conducted. In any case, when I read these pages I thought of Balzac. I did not think of a specific Balzac story, but I could not turn away from the idea as James brought us current with the introduction of the male friend. Balzac's stories are filled with irony and, in that one respect, this is no different.
I am very glad to have read this, short as it is. Too short for 5-stars, but certainly good enough.
Rather interesting, especially having read it immediately after The House of Mirth. While Wharton's Lily Bart was striving to meet society on its termRather interesting, especially having read it immediately after The House of Mirth. While Wharton's Lily Bart was striving to meet society on its terms, James' Daisy Miller doesn't know that it is important to meet the same terms. In fact she seems to be completely ignorant there even are terms!
This is very short and could easily be read in one sitting. The edition I read included an introduction by James. Also included was a letter from Eliza Lynn Linton in which she asked him to discuss Daisy's motivation - was she innocent or defiant. What was so interesting about this is James' analysis of Daisy's personality - analysis that most certainly was not included in the novel. This letter gave us the opportunity to see a bit of the inner workings of the novelist himself.
This was James' most popular publication in his lifetime. And, as it was early in his career, opened the way for some of his later works. Although I gave this only 3 stars, I look forward to more Henry James in my lifetime!...more
This was sort of a fun change from what I normally read. James gives us the perfect tone for this dark novella. I think some do not like James' writinThis was sort of a fun change from what I normally read. James gives us the perfect tone for this dark novella. I think some do not like James' writing style for he throws in some oddly constructed sentences. I had to pay attention for sure!
Unfortunately, the ending was predictable and the seeming angst of the governess was tiresome. I say "seeming" because she professed to know the future, yet tried to prevent it despite that knowledge. Even so, I remarked to myself shortly before the ending that James constructed his story nearly perfectly.
How is it that I use the word perfect/ly in each of two paragraphs yet complain of predictability? Perhaps I'm feeling as perverse as the apparitions. Still, this is just a high 3- or low 4-stars. I'll give it the latter because I did enjoy my time with it....more
We are presented with an unnamed narrator in the canals of Venice. He is speaking with a Mrs. Prest about two old women, one of whom was the paramour We are presented with an unnamed narrator in the canals of Venice. He is speaking with a Mrs. Prest about two old women, one of whom was the paramour of the fictional poet Jeffery Aspern. We learn that another Aspern researcher has determined Miss Bordereau has the papers of this celebrated poet who died more than 50 years previously. Ah, but the very elderly Juliana Bordereau is very protective, and has said no such papers exist. Now our unnamed narrator will use a false name and gain access to the household as a boarder. This is the story of how he goes about accomplishing his aim of recovering those precious papers.
My first taste of Henry James was his The Portrait of a Lady, a book I loved and determined right then and there that Henry James would be part of my reading life. I wasn’t quite as enamored of the next ones, so I must say I was very pleased to happen upon this. James’ prose can be challenging. I didn’t find it so here. The characterization of Tita Bordereau, the niece, was the best of the three characters.
Sometimes I am a bit bewildered about writing in this review space. In this instance, I have no idea whether my reaction to this book now, in this time and place, would be the same as that of a different time and place. I can say I was highly motivated to be reading it and will conjecture that is at least part of why I think so highly of it. I can’t say when I’ll find myself in front of another Henry James. I hope not a lot of time passes, but I’m finding myself again very interested in 19th Century literature in general. This was 5-stars for me, hands down. ...more
The edition I read (in Delphi Complete Works of Henry James) included a preface by the author. He states that he had a perfect picture of his heroine,The edition I read (in Delphi Complete Works of Henry James) included a preface by the author. He states that he had a perfect picture of his heroine, his portrait of her, and yet had no plan for what to do with her.
I seem to myself to have waked up one morning in possession of them -- of Ralph Touchett and his parents, of Madame Merle, of Gilbert Osmond and his daughter and his sister, of Lord Warburton, Caspar Goodwood and Miss Stackpole, the definite array of contributions to Isabel Archer's history. I recognised them, I knew them, they were the numbered pieces of my puzzle, the concrete terms of my "plot." It was as if they had simply, by an impulse of their own, floated into my ken, and all in response to my primary question: "Well, what will she DO?" Their answer seemed to be that if I would trust them they would show me; on which, with an urgent appeal to them to make it at least as interesting as they could, I trusted them.
Please note that even Henry James placed the word plot in quotes. There is but a tiny breath of plot in this. Isabel Archer doesn't do much, in spite of the above. Do not be deceived, however - this is not in the least dull. I see some people have this shelved as Romance. Yes, there is wooing and professions of lifelong love, and that is mostly what moves that tiny bit of plot. For me, it was ever so much more than that, however.
The characterizations are good - stellar in one or two instances. I have to admit I didn't especially care for Isabel Archer. With all her love of knowledge she had a natural shrinking from raising curtains and looking into unlighted corners. The love of knowledge coexisted in her mind with the finest capacity for ignorance. Yet men - yes, plural - found her interesting. The interesting character, in particular, was the villain I loved to hate.
All of this was captured in near perfect prose. I have read references that his prose is overly complex, but, at least here, I didn't find it so. In fact, it is immensely readable and I always wanted to know what was on the next page. I look forward to more Henry James....more
Elizabeth (Alaska)
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