Critical Companion to Henry James

Critical Companion to Henry James PDF Author: Eric L. Haralson
Publisher: Infobase Publishing
ISBN: 1438117272
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 529

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Book Description
Examines the life and writings of Henry James including detailed synopses of his works, explanations of literary terms, biographies of friends and family, and social and historical influences.

The Cambridge Companion to Henry James

The Cambridge Companion to Henry James PDF Author: Jonathan Freedman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139825364
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 284

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Book Description
The Cambridge Companion to Henry James provides a critical introduction to James's work. Throughout the major critical shifts of the last fifty years, and despite suspicions of the traditional high literary culture which was James's milieu, he has retained a powerful hold on readers and critics alike. All essays are written at a level free from technical jargon, designed to promote accessibility to the study of James and his work.

Critical Companion to Henry James

Critical Companion to Henry James PDF Author: Eric L. Haralson
Publisher: Facts on File
ISBN: 9780816068869
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Examines the life and writings of Henry James including detailed synopses of his works, explanations of literary terms, biographies of friends and family, and social and historical influences.

Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne

Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne PDF Author: Sarah Bird Wright
Publisher: Infobase Publishing
ISBN: 1438108532
Category : Authors, American
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
Offers critical entries on Hawthorne's novels, short stories, travel writing, criticism, and other works, as well as portraits of characters, including Hester Prynne and Roger Chillingworth. This reference also provides entries on Hawthorne's family, friends - ranging from Herman Melville to President Franklin Pierce - publishers, and critics.

Henry James at Work

Henry James at Work PDF Author: Theodora Bosanquet
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
ISBN: 9780472115716
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description
The delightful memoir by James's feisty and feminist secretary, with a biographical essay and excerpts from her diaries

Daisy Miller

Daisy Miller PDF Author: Henry James
Publisher: Broadview Press
ISBN: 155111030X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 221

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Book Description
Henry James’s Daisy Miller was an immediate sensation when it was first published in 1878 and has remained popular ever since. In this novella, the charming but inscrutable young American of the title shocks European society with her casual indifference to its social mores. The novella was popular in part because of the debates it sparked about foreign travel, the behaviour of women, and cultural clashes between people of different nationalities and social classes. This Broadview edition presents an early version of James’s best-known novella within the cultural contexts of its day. In addition to primary materials about nineteenth-century womanhood, foreign travel, medicine, philosophy, theatre, and art—some of the topics that interested James as he was writing the story—this volume includes James’s ruminations on fiction, theatre, and writing, and presents excerpts of Daisy Miller as he rewrote it for the theatre and for a much later and heavily revised edition.

Notes of a Son and Brother and The Middle Years

Notes of a Son and Brother and The Middle Years PDF Author: Henry James
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
ISBN: 0813930901
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 594

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Book Description
After a childhood divided between America and Europe, Henry James settled with his family in New England, first in what he regarded as an outpost of Europe, Newport, and later in Cambridge. The family letters (the initial inspiration for this autobiographical enterprise), many of which recount the early career of William James at Harvard and in Germany, also reveal Henry James Sr.’s views on the intellectual, philosophical, and social issues of the time. Henry Jr., aspiring to be "just literary," acknowledges his indebtedness to the widely cultured artist John La Farge, whose friendship he enjoyed during adolescence. The Civil War is recorded through the letters of his younger brother, Wilky, while Henry recalls a Whitmanesque longing for the Union soldiers he met and talked to. The death of a beloved cousin, Mary Temple, who would become the inspiration for some of his greatest fictional heroines, is documented through the passionate, questioning letters she wrote in her final year of life. In The Middle Years James, newly resident in London, gives his impressions of some of the literary "lions" of the time, most notably George Eliot and Tennyson. This first fully annotated critical edition of Notes of a Son and Brother and The Middle Years both offers the reader extensive support in appreciating the demands of James’s late prose and illuminates the context in which one of literature’s most influential figures developed a characteristic voice.

The Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw PDF Author: Henry James
Publisher: Aegitas
ISBN: 0369411692
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a classic ghost story that continues to captivate readers over a century after its initial publication. Set in the late 19th century, the novella follows a young governess who is hired to care for two young children, Flora and Miles, at the remote and eerie Bly Manor. As the governess begins her duties, she becomes increasingly convinced that the manor is haunted by the spirits of the previous governess, Miss Jessel, and her lover, Peter Quint, who both died under mysterious circumstances. The story unfolds as the governess tries to protect the children from the malevolent ghosts, while also questioning her own sanity and the motives of the children in their interactions with the spirits. One of the most intriguing aspects of The Turn of the Screw is its unreliable narrator. The story is told through the perspective of the governess, whose mental state and perceptions of events are constantly called into question. This creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, leaving readers to question whether the ghosts are real or just figments of the governess's imagination. James masterfully plays with the theme of perception and reality, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions about the events at Bly Manor. Another striking element of the novella is its use of Gothic elements. The isolated location, the decaying mansion, and the presence of ghosts all contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the story. James also incorporates psychological horror, as the governess's fears and paranoia intensify throughout the story, building tension and suspense. The Turn of the Screw is a prime example of Gothic literature, with its exploration of the dark side of human nature and the blurred lines between the living and the dead. One of the most controversial aspects of the novella is its ambiguous ending. The governess's final confrontation with the ghosts and the fate of the children are left open to interpretation, inviting readers to ponder the true meaning of the story. Some critics argue that the ghosts are a product of the governess's overactive imagination, while others believe that they are real and that the children are in danger. This open-ended conclusion has sparked countless debates and interpretations, making The Turn of the Screw a thought-provoking and enduring piece of literature. In addition to its literary merits, The Turn of the Screw also offers insight into the societal norms and expectations of the time period in which it was written. James explores themes of gender roles and class distinctions through the character of the governess, who is expected to be subservient and obedient to her male employer and to maintain the social hierarchy between herself and the children. The story also touches on the taboo subject of sexual relationships, particularly in regards to the ghosts and their influence on the children. Ultimately, The Turn of the Screw is a haunting and enigmatic work that continues to captivate readers with its complex characters, Gothic atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes. It is a testament to Henry James's mastery of storytelling and his ability to create a sense of unease and suspense that lingers long after the final page. A must-read for anyone interested in Gothic literature, psychological thrillers, or the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural.

Critical Companion to Edgar Allan Poe

Critical Companion to Edgar Allan Poe PDF Author: Dawn B. Sova
Publisher: Infobase Publishing
ISBN: 1438108427
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 467

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Book Description
Examines the life and career of Edgar Allan Poe including synopses of many of his works, biographies of family and friends, a discussion of Poe's influence on other writers, and places that influenced his writing.

The Critical Reception of Henry James

The Critical Reception of Henry James PDF Author: Linda Simon
Publisher: Camden House
ISBN: 9781571133199
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description