Генри Джеймс
Список книг автора Генри ДжеймсThe Complete Tales of Henry James (Volume 6 of 12)
Henry James (1843-1916) was an America-born English writer whose novels, short stories and letters established the foundation of the modernist movement in twentieth century fiction and poetry. His career, one of the most significant and influential in English literature, spanned over five decades and resulted in a body of work that has had a profound impact on generations of writers. Born in New York, but educated in France, Germany, England and Switzerland, James often explored the cultural discord between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (United States) in his writings. Included in this sixth volume of «The Complete Tales of Henry James» are the following stories: «Georgina's Reasons,» «A New England Winter,» «The Path of Duty,» «Mrs. Temperly,» «Louisa Pallant,» «The Aspen Papers,» and «The Liar.»
What Maisie Knew
Henry James's novel «What Maisie Knew» is the story of Beale and Ida Farange and their daughter Maisie. When the two divorce the court orders that the custody of Maisie be split between the two. Spending six months with each, Maisie finds herself in an unstable position as the immoral and frivolous Beale and Ida use Maisie to intensify their animosity for each other. «What Maisie Knew» is a tragic tale of the consequences of a child caught between two unloving parents.
Italian Hours
Henry James (1843-1916) was an America-born English writer whose novels, short stories and letters established the foundation of the modernist movement in twentieth century fiction and poetry. His career, one of the most significant and influential in English literature, spanned over five decades and resulted in a body of work that has had a profound impact on generations of writers. Born in New York, but educated in France, Germany, England and Switzerland, James often explored the cultural discord between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (United States) in his writings. From 1872 to 1909 James wrote an extensive collection of essays illustrating his travels throughout Italy, particularly his time in Venice and Rome. Since its publication in 1909, «Italian Hours» has delighted readers with its vivid descriptions and sentimental recollections of James' time in the country he loved dearly.
The Golden Bowl
Henry James’s 1904 novel “The Golden Bowl” is the story of Prince Amerigo, an impoverished but charismatic Italian nobleman who travels to London to marry Maggie Verver, the only child of the immensely wealthy American financier and art collector, Adam Verver. While in London, Prince Amerigo meets his former mistress, Charlotte Stant, who is Maggie’s close friend and soon to marry Maggie’s widowed father. Amerigo and the beautiful Charlotte find themselves often in each other’s company and the two are soon engaged in an adulterous affair. While Maggie is at first naïve and unaware of her husband and friend’s connection, she becomes wiser and more assertive as the novel progresses. No longer content to let her husband and his mistress have their way to detriment of both her father’s marriage and her own, she adeptly maneuvers everyone concerned till she finally has them where she wants them. Considered by some to be the last work of Henry James’ “major phase”, which was marked by the publication of “The Wings of the Dove” in 1902 and “The Ambassadors” in 1903, “The Golden Bowl” is a complex and insightful examination of marriage, family, and adultery. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
What Maisie Knew
First published serially in 1897, Henry James’s novel “What Maisie Knew” is the story of Beale and Ida Farange and their young daughter, Maisie. When Maisie is very young, Beale and Ida divorce and the court orders that the custody of Maisie be split between the two. Spending six months with each, Maisie finds herself in an unstable position as her immoral and frivolous parents use Maisie to intensify their animosity for each other. The novel follows Maisie from her earliest years through her adolescence and early adulthood. Throughout this time, there are no adults who are willing to truly take responsibility for Maisie and she is often forgotten in their romantic dramas and childish feuds. However, Maisie matures into a thoughtful and intelligent young lady, despite the instability of her upbringing. James’s novel was a harsh indictment of an English society that he felt was becoming morally corrupt and decadent, with children paying the price for the lack of adult responsibility. A critical success and one of James’s most appreciated novels, “What Maisie Knew” is the tragic tale of the consequences of a child caught between two unloving and irresponsible parents. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
Washington Square
Originally published serially in 1880 and named for the upscale area in New York where the novel is set, “Washington Square” is Henry James’s classic story of familial conflicts and social class in mid-19th century America. It is the tale of Catherine Sloper, a naïve, kind, and plain heiress who has lived a sheltered life, raised by her stubborn and wealthy father and flighty aunt in a grand house. Much to her father’s disapproval, she is wooed by Morris Townsend, a handsome and sophisticated gentleman, who is more interested in Catherine's inheritance than he is in her. When the two get engaged against the wishes of her father, Catherine must make a choice between the only man she will ever love and the wealth that she will inherit. Much-loved for its simple and beautiful prose and its detailed and intimate portraits of its complicated and layered characters, the novel captures the complexity of love and family. In a bittersweet turn of events, Catherine is changed by heartbreak and disappointment and matures into a wiser woman. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
The Bostonians
First serialized in “The Century Magazine” in 1885 and 1886, Henry James’s “The Bostonians” is the story of Basil Ransom and his cousin Olive Chancellor and their competition for the allegiance and affection of the talented and beautiful Verena Tarrant. Basil, a conservative lawyer and Civil War veteran, has gone to Boston to visit his cousin Olive, an outspoken and independent feminist who is very active in the cause. Olive takes her cousin to hear a speech on female emancipation and the speaker is the enchanting Verena. Both Basil and Olive are taken with her. Basil wishes to marry Verena and take her away from the public and political life she has been drawn to. Olive, however, wishes to see Verena continue in her activism and invites Verena to live with her and spend more time with her fellow feminists. Verena accepts Olive’s offer and thus begins a battle between two strong and intelligent people both vying for control over Verena’s future. Rich with political and romantic drama, detailed characters, and set against a fascinating cross-section of American life in the late 19th century, “The Bostonians” remains a timely and affecting achievement in American literature. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
The Wings of the Dove
First published in 1902, “The Wings of the Dove” is considered to be one of Henry James’s great masterpieces. It is the story of Milly Theale, a wealthy American heiress, who has traveled to London and tries to conceal that she is facing a serious illness, and the young couple she spends time with there, Kate and Merton. Milly is in love with Merton, but does not tell him this, while Kate and Merton are secretly engaged to be married to each other, a secret that they too are concealing from Milly. Kate and Merton feel they cannot marry as they are quite poor. Driven by desperation and greed, Kate concocts a cruel plot to inherit Milly’s money. She attempts to convince Merton to pretend to love Milly, marry her, and then he will inherit her riches upon her impending death. Kate and Merton would then be free to marry with Milly’s money. It is a story of greed and deception, while also a heartbreaking portrait of Milly’s struggle to “achieve, however briefly and brokenly, the sense of having lived”. A semi-biographical tale of James’s own cousin, Minny Temple, “The Wings of the Dove” is a classic and compelling work of American literature. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
The Ambassadors
First published in 1903 in serial form, Henry James’ “The Ambassadors” is the story of the middle-aged and naïve Lewis Lambert Strether, who travels to Europe at the behest of his widowed fiancée to find her supposedly wayward son, Chad Newsome. Mrs. Newsome fears he has fallen under the spell of a sinful woman and Strether must rescue him. With the intent of bringing Chad back to America and to his post at the family business, Strether encounters many unexpected complications along the way and finds that the situation may not be as his fiancée has imagined. Strether finds himself seduced by the beauty of Europe, the more casual and open relationships of the Europeans he encounters, and the relaxed social mores. Strether is so seduced that he considers never returning to his home and begins to fall in love with another woman. Eventually, Strether comes to his senses and realizes that Europe may not be the paradise he has convinced himself it to be. Strether returns to America as a changed man, less rigid, wiser, and more thoughtful. Hailed as one of James’s finest novel and his own personal favorite, “The Ambassadors” is the perfect blending of the old world with the new. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
The Portrait of a Lady (with an Introduction by Charles R. Anderson)
First published serially in “The Atlantic Monthly” between 1880 and 1881, Henry James’ “The Portrait of a Lady” is widely regarded as one of the author’s finest literary achievements. As is common with James’ work a contrast is drawn between the cultural and social differences between America and Europe through the portrayal of American expatriates in Europe. The titular lady in question is that of Isabel Archer, a spirited young American woman who inherits a large sum of money and subsequently falls prey to the machinations of individuals trying to gain control of her fortune. The fiercely independent Isabel is set upon fully enjoying her fortune by travelling the European continent. While she had previously rejected two marriage proposals she is taken with an American expatriate, Gilbert Osmond, while visiting Florence, and decides to accept his matrimonial offer. Marital bliss quickly turns to unhappiness when the two settle in Rome and Isabel realizes Gilbert’s overwhelming egotism and lack of genuine affection for her. One of James’ most enduringly popular works “The Portrait of a Lady” is heralded as a classic of the modern era. This edition includes an introduction by Charles R. Anderson and a biographical afterword.