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The Great Short Novels of Henry James
Includes ten Madame de Mauves Daisy Miller An International Episode The Siege of London Lady Barberina The Author of Beltraffio The Aspern Papers The Pupil The Turn of the Screw The Beast in the Jungle
799 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1903
About the author
Henry James
4,724 books4,034 followersHenry James was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the son of Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James.
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 14, 2019
Interesting for both the complete works of art and for the lesser works that would eventually evolve into the mature novels. "Daisy Miller" is both, I suppose. The most complete, and perfect, novels here are those that deal with authorship—"The Author of Beltraffio" and "The Aspern Papers." Then there is "The Pupil" with its charmingly melancholic depiction of the tie between tutor and student. "The Turn of the Screw" and "The Beast in the Jungle" are in a class of their own, their development subtle and inevitable. They have the compulsiveness of potboilers. The miracle is that they aren't.
February 20, 2015
Thus far I've only read "The Turn of the Screw".
A certain number of late 19th century writers turned their hands to the somewhat less than high-brow literary genre of spook stories (Dickens, for example) so to find Henry James doing it is not unprecedented.
The pleasure lies much in the legendary periphrasis of James' style, especially as he approached his late novels. The narrative structure is typical of the era - an unnamed narrator provides sort of a wrapper around the actual story as he is spending Christmas at a country house where the swapping of tales of the supernatural is the evening entertainment. A second guest avers that he knows of a story that will astound them all, though the telling of it is delayed as he says he must go to town and fetch a manuscript which he will read aloud - retelling is not possible. A couple of pages later, we get the actual story which is a first-person narrative by the young woman who is its central character.
I won't give away the plot except to mention that at the end it is faintly possible that the young woman narrator is suffering from some delusion rather than anything supernatural having actually occurred, or so it seems to me - not sure if standard interpretation of the novella shares that view.
A certain number of late 19th century writers turned their hands to the somewhat less than high-brow literary genre of spook stories (Dickens, for example) so to find Henry James doing it is not unprecedented.
The pleasure lies much in the legendary periphrasis of James' style, especially as he approached his late novels. The narrative structure is typical of the era - an unnamed narrator provides sort of a wrapper around the actual story as he is spending Christmas at a country house where the swapping of tales of the supernatural is the evening entertainment. A second guest avers that he knows of a story that will astound them all, though the telling of it is delayed as he says he must go to town and fetch a manuscript which he will read aloud - retelling is not possible. A couple of pages later, we get the actual story which is a first-person narrative by the young woman who is its central character.
I won't give away the plot except to mention that at the end it is faintly possible that the young woman narrator is suffering from some delusion rather than anything supernatural having actually occurred, or so it seems to me - not sure if standard interpretation of the novella shares that view.
June 8, 2018
The Turn of the Screw
An incredible narrative that makes every chapter shiver and fills us with more doubts than answers.
A book that points out more suggestions than affirmations, providing the reader have their own reflections, criticisms, and conclusions.
The chapters are short, the narration is full of ambiguous dialogues that are beyond verbal language: they also exist in descriptions about emotions, features and expressions of the characters that sometimes explain more than even their speech.
A scream, a cry, an escape, a hysterical laugh - all are elements of language that Henry James uses in an exceptional way.
The ambiguity is so present in this script that we start to be in doubt about what and who is indeed real or not.
The suggestions also surround up to the age and sexual gender of the characters. And there is still a subliminal questioning: a relationship between morality, sex, perversion, anger, hatred, chastity and religiosity.
Some dialogues are entirely suggestive in this sense and it is as if the author actually places the reader as agent of the novel. Henry James does this in an absurdly creative and engaging way. In some excerpts, for example, it is common to read dialogues like "you already know"; or "do you really already know everything?" or "are you sure about this?"
And it is marvelous to see how these questions receive different responses not only from readers, but from cinematographic adaptations, as for example "The Innocents", which has the script signed by none other than Truman Capote and where there is an interesting Freudian conjecture in his interpretations. "The Others" with Nicole Kidman is another great and scary film based on this book.
This is a wonderful example of how literature opens the relations between the fictional characters, the author and the reader, bringing ambiguity to the experience of reading, imagination and reality.
And also a doubt: woww maybe I saw something in that hallway. Is the result of my imagination or some kind of ghost? : )
____
“The Beast in the Jungle”
A deep and subtle book, but one that requires attention and patience because of James's style, the narrative form of the time when it was written, and resembling a novel. And then a tip, in my opinion, is to find a good translation.
As in other works by Henry James, for example in "The Turn of the Screw" there are many subliminal psychological nuances, ambiguities and secrets of the characters that are not immediately revealed to us, readers, but hovering throughout history, leading us to participate and interpret their revelations - even if some of them are not unveiled until the end ... and then we are wondering what actually happened.
The plot is based on the relationship between two friends: a man and a woman. They had met and talked for a long time, during a social event and they held different memories and feelings from that day. Years later, they meet again in another chance, they surprise themselves on that day and they begin to develop a deep friendship from there.
This is the background for James to put on the table how relationships can help us see who we are, what we cover, what we feel and open to the other and to life. To see how certain aspects of ourselves, hidden under the masks we use in social relations, are seen only by those who truly love us.
How far do we live looking at our own navel and fail to notice the other person in front of us wanting to tell us something?
The symbology of this plot follows a path that points out that all of this can reach the extreme of one's own death in life - that of losing our existence not by mistake, but by ceasing to try and do. By standing still and not realizing the possibilities that are often exposed in front of us.
"Our fate is never thwarted, and the day she told him that his was sealed, he saw him only to stupidly ignore the salvation he offered."
And finally not letting ourselves feel, reflect and allow ourselves to be what we are.
"What ended up happening is that he started to wear a mask painted with the social smile, whose cracks emanated a look of an expression that had nothing to do with his features"
Merged review:
“The Beast in the Jungle”
A deep and subtle book, but one that requires attention and patience because of James's style, the narrative form of the time when it was written, and resembling a novel. And then a tip, in my opinion, is to find a good translation.
As in other works by Henry James, for example in "The Turn of the Screw" there are many subliminal psychological nuances, ambiguities and secrets of the characters that are not immediately revealed to us, readers, but hovering throughout history, leading us to participate and interpret their revelations - even if some of them are not unveiled until the end ... and then we are wondering what actually happened.
The plot is based on the relationship between two friends: a man and a woman. They had met and talked for a long time, during a social event and they held different memories and feelings from that day. Years later, they meet again in another chance, they surprise themselves on that day and they begin to develop a deep friendship from there.
This is the background for James to put on the table how relationships can help us see who we are, what we cover, what we feel and open to the other and to life. To see how certain aspects of ourselves, hidden under the masks we use in social relations, are seen only by those who truly love us.
How far do we live looking at our own navel and fail to notice the other person in front of us wanting to tell us something?
The symbology of this plot follows a path that points out that all of this can reach the extreme of one's own death in life - that of losing our existence not by mistake, but by ceasing to try and do. By standing still and not realizing the possibilities that are often exposed in front of us.
"Our fate is never thwarted, and the day she told him that his was sealed, he saw him only to stupidly ignore the salvation he offered."
And finally not letting ourselves feel, reflect and allow ourselves to be what we are.
"What ended up happening is that he started to wear a mask painted with the social smile, whose cracks emanated a look of an expression that had nothing to do with his features"
_____
The Turn of the Screw
An incredible narrative that makes every chapter shiver and fills us with more doubts than answers.
A book that points out more suggestions than affirmations, providing the reader have their own reflections, criticisms, and conclusions.
The chapters are short, the narration is full of ambiguous dialogues that are beyond verbal language: they also exist in descriptions about emotions, features and expressions of the characters that sometimes explain more than even their speech.
A scream, a cry, an escape, a hysterical laugh - all are elements of language that Henry James uses in an exceptional way.
The ambiguity is so present in this script that we start to be in doubt about what and who is indeed real or not.
The suggestions also surround up to the age and sexual gender of the characters. And there is still a subliminal questioning: a relationship between morality, sex, perversion, anger, hatred, chastity and religiosity.
Some dialogues are entirely suggestive in this sense and it is as if the author actually places the reader as agent of the novel. Henry James does this in an absurdly creative and engaging way. In some excerpts, for example, it is common to read dialogues like "you already know"; or "do you really already know everything?" or "are you sure about this?"
And it is marvelous to see how these questions receive different responses not only from readers, but from cinematographic adaptations, as for example "The Innocents", which has the script signed by none other than Truman Capote and where there is an interesting Freudian conjecture in his interpretations. "The Others" with Nicole Kidman is another great and scary film based on this book.
This is a wonderful example of how literature opens the relations between the fictional characters, the author and the reader, bringing ambiguity to the experience of reading, imagination and reality.
And also a doubt: woww maybe I saw something in that hallway. Is the result of my imagination or some kind of ghost? : )
_______
An incredible narrative that makes every chapter shiver and fills us with more doubts than answers.
A book that points out more suggestions than affirmations, providing the reader have their own reflections, criticisms, and conclusions.
The chapters are short, the narration is full of ambiguous dialogues that are beyond verbal language: they also exist in descriptions about emotions, features and expressions of the characters that sometimes explain more than even their speech.
A scream, a cry, an escape, a hysterical laugh - all are elements of language that Henry James uses in an exceptional way.
The ambiguity is so present in this script that we start to be in doubt about what and who is indeed real or not.
The suggestions also surround up to the age and sexual gender of the characters. And there is still a subliminal questioning: a relationship between morality, sex, perversion, anger, hatred, chastity and religiosity.
Some dialogues are entirely suggestive in this sense and it is as if the author actually places the reader as agent of the novel. Henry James does this in an absurdly creative and engaging way. In some excerpts, for example, it is common to read dialogues like "you already know"; or "do you really already know everything?" or "are you sure about this?"
And it is marvelous to see how these questions receive different responses not only from readers, but from cinematographic adaptations, as for example "The Innocents", which has the script signed by none other than Truman Capote and where there is an interesting Freudian conjecture in his interpretations. "The Others" with Nicole Kidman is another great and scary film based on this book.
This is a wonderful example of how literature opens the relations between the fictional characters, the author and the reader, bringing ambiguity to the experience of reading, imagination and reality.
And also a doubt: woww maybe I saw something in that hallway. Is the result of my imagination or some kind of ghost? : )
____
“The Beast in the Jungle”
A deep and subtle book, but one that requires attention and patience because of James's style, the narrative form of the time when it was written, and resembling a novel. And then a tip, in my opinion, is to find a good translation.
As in other works by Henry James, for example in "The Turn of the Screw" there are many subliminal psychological nuances, ambiguities and secrets of the characters that are not immediately revealed to us, readers, but hovering throughout history, leading us to participate and interpret their revelations - even if some of them are not unveiled until the end ... and then we are wondering what actually happened.
The plot is based on the relationship between two friends: a man and a woman. They had met and talked for a long time, during a social event and they held different memories and feelings from that day. Years later, they meet again in another chance, they surprise themselves on that day and they begin to develop a deep friendship from there.
This is the background for James to put on the table how relationships can help us see who we are, what we cover, what we feel and open to the other and to life. To see how certain aspects of ourselves, hidden under the masks we use in social relations, are seen only by those who truly love us.
How far do we live looking at our own navel and fail to notice the other person in front of us wanting to tell us something?
The symbology of this plot follows a path that points out that all of this can reach the extreme of one's own death in life - that of losing our existence not by mistake, but by ceasing to try and do. By standing still and not realizing the possibilities that are often exposed in front of us.
"Our fate is never thwarted, and the day she told him that his was sealed, he saw him only to stupidly ignore the salvation he offered."
And finally not letting ourselves feel, reflect and allow ourselves to be what we are.
"What ended up happening is that he started to wear a mask painted with the social smile, whose cracks emanated a look of an expression that had nothing to do with his features"
Merged review:
“The Beast in the Jungle”
A deep and subtle book, but one that requires attention and patience because of James's style, the narrative form of the time when it was written, and resembling a novel. And then a tip, in my opinion, is to find a good translation.
As in other works by Henry James, for example in "The Turn of the Screw" there are many subliminal psychological nuances, ambiguities and secrets of the characters that are not immediately revealed to us, readers, but hovering throughout history, leading us to participate and interpret their revelations - even if some of them are not unveiled until the end ... and then we are wondering what actually happened.
The plot is based on the relationship between two friends: a man and a woman. They had met and talked for a long time, during a social event and they held different memories and feelings from that day. Years later, they meet again in another chance, they surprise themselves on that day and they begin to develop a deep friendship from there.
This is the background for James to put on the table how relationships can help us see who we are, what we cover, what we feel and open to the other and to life. To see how certain aspects of ourselves, hidden under the masks we use in social relations, are seen only by those who truly love us.
How far do we live looking at our own navel and fail to notice the other person in front of us wanting to tell us something?
The symbology of this plot follows a path that points out that all of this can reach the extreme of one's own death in life - that of losing our existence not by mistake, but by ceasing to try and do. By standing still and not realizing the possibilities that are often exposed in front of us.
"Our fate is never thwarted, and the day she told him that his was sealed, he saw him only to stupidly ignore the salvation he offered."
And finally not letting ourselves feel, reflect and allow ourselves to be what we are.
"What ended up happening is that he started to wear a mask painted with the social smile, whose cracks emanated a look of an expression that had nothing to do with his features"
_____
The Turn of the Screw
An incredible narrative that makes every chapter shiver and fills us with more doubts than answers.
A book that points out more suggestions than affirmations, providing the reader have their own reflections, criticisms, and conclusions.
The chapters are short, the narration is full of ambiguous dialogues that are beyond verbal language: they also exist in descriptions about emotions, features and expressions of the characters that sometimes explain more than even their speech.
A scream, a cry, an escape, a hysterical laugh - all are elements of language that Henry James uses in an exceptional way.
The ambiguity is so present in this script that we start to be in doubt about what and who is indeed real or not.
The suggestions also surround up to the age and sexual gender of the characters. And there is still a subliminal questioning: a relationship between morality, sex, perversion, anger, hatred, chastity and religiosity.
Some dialogues are entirely suggestive in this sense and it is as if the author actually places the reader as agent of the novel. Henry James does this in an absurdly creative and engaging way. In some excerpts, for example, it is common to read dialogues like "you already know"; or "do you really already know everything?" or "are you sure about this?"
And it is marvelous to see how these questions receive different responses not only from readers, but from cinematographic adaptations, as for example "The Innocents", which has the script signed by none other than Truman Capote and where there is an interesting Freudian conjecture in his interpretations. "The Others" with Nicole Kidman is another great and scary film based on this book.
This is a wonderful example of how literature opens the relations between the fictional characters, the author and the reader, bringing ambiguity to the experience of reading, imagination and reality.
And also a doubt: woww maybe I saw something in that hallway. Is the result of my imagination or some kind of ghost? : )
_______
October 12, 2022
I couldn’t find the exact addition I had which was somewhat older and came from a used book sale. My edition had An international episode, Daisy Miller, The Aspern papers, The beast in the jungle, The altar of the dead, and The turn of the screw. The Aspern Papers was interesting as an early study of celebrity obsession.
December 2, 2020
The Mirror of Life
These great short novels, besides featuring so many memorable women, always force you to consider your own life, in reflection. What a great writer.
These great short novels, besides featuring so many memorable women, always force you to consider your own life, in reflection. What a great writer.
February 13, 2016
Henry James was obsessed with women! He trains a laser beam on his major female characters (--and most of the major characters in his writing ARE female) and reports in exhausting detail every crazy and/or idiotic thing they say and every bizarre action they undertake. They are mostly silly and weak, these women of his, a few are malevolent. They struggle against the strictures of how women in the late 1800s and early 1900s should act, and they make strange and baffling "moral decisions"....
Not sure I like Henry James any more. Why are his "good" women so very quiet (Maisie in 'What Maisie Knew' and Claire Bellegarde in 'The American'), while his less-than-good ones never stop talking? Why are all his women so flakey, so emotional? Why are his men characters never the focus of any angst, but simply neutral observers of the female antics?
Not sure I like Henry James any more. Why are his "good" women so very quiet (Maisie in 'What Maisie Knew' and Claire Bellegarde in 'The American'), while his less-than-good ones never stop talking? Why are all his women so flakey, so emotional? Why are his men characters never the focus of any angst, but simply neutral observers of the female antics?
April 12, 2016
Madame de Mauves, Daisy Miller and an International Episode all dealt with intercontinental romances and I found them boring.
The Siege of London was sort of in the same vein, but I found myself being drawn into the story and the characters.
Lady Barberina was depressing.
The Author of Beltraffio was odd, but interesting. The characters, for the most part seemed to be a little silly.
The Aspern Papers was delightful. Twists and turns to an ending that you don't suspect.
The Pupil was also a bit depressing and frustrating, but very well-written
The Turn of the Screw was absolutely magnficient (though the ending not quite what I would have liked).
I couldn't finish The Beast of the Jungle.
The Siege of London was sort of in the same vein, but I found myself being drawn into the story and the characters.
Lady Barberina was depressing.
The Author of Beltraffio was odd, but interesting. The characters, for the most part seemed to be a little silly.
The Aspern Papers was delightful. Twists and turns to an ending that you don't suspect.
The Pupil was also a bit depressing and frustrating, but very well-written
The Turn of the Screw was absolutely magnficient (though the ending not quite what I would have liked).
I couldn't finish The Beast of the Jungle.
August 5, 2013
The Turn of the Screw is an interesting read, but I need to warn you, it is disturbing. Henry James, in writing it, was ahead of his time, and not recognized for this modern, imaginative novella until much later after his death.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews