After reading many novelists in full, I see that a writer often arrives at the perfect meshing of subject and style—probably not first time out, but neither as a last shot.
What a lovely essay! I just finished teaching "The Portrait of a Lady," and chapter 42 is the perfect example of "show[ing] us intricate psychic states we instinctively grasp, but have no words for."
I like many of the novels: Portrait, American, Washington Square, Wings, Bowl, and a lot of the stories, including "The Aspern Papers". Thanks for asking.
Maybe Jean will answer! I have a youthful attachment to Portrait of a Lady that can perhaps never be broken but I wonder what I would think of it now. Reading Middlemarch reminded me of my green feelings about it. I went through a spate of reading Henry James novels in my twenties that I look back on as a moment of bliss. How did I find the time? The Golden Bowl stood out the most from that period, though I found it frustrating in some ways.
I just read Portrait of a Lady for the first time, decades after 20, and loved it! I tried Golden bowl in my 20s and couldn't do it, except in bits and pieces.
Oops I missed some of these comments, I'm sorry! I haven't read Sentimental Education. I just got a new translation from the University of Minnesota Press. Maybe time for a return...
What a lovely essay! I just finished teaching "The Portrait of a Lady," and chapter 42 is the perfect example of "show[ing] us intricate psychic states we instinctively grasp, but have no words for."
I like many of the novels: Portrait, American, Washington Square, Wings, Bowl, and a lot of the stories, including "The Aspern Papers". Thanks for asking.
Thank you for joining us in the comments!
Excellent observations. What’s your favorite Henry James?
Maybe Jean will answer! I have a youthful attachment to Portrait of a Lady that can perhaps never be broken but I wonder what I would think of it now. Reading Middlemarch reminded me of my green feelings about it. I went through a spate of reading Henry James novels in my twenties that I look back on as a moment of bliss. How did I find the time? The Golden Bowl stood out the most from that period, though I found it frustrating in some ways.
I just read Portrait of a Lady for the first time, decades after 20, and loved it! I tried Golden bowl in my 20s and couldn't do it, except in bits and pieces.
Thanks!
The Golden Bowl is definitely one of the hardest! I read The Ambassadors more recently and found it enjoyable but not quite as rich. Our own Mona wrote about it here https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/can-she-be-loved-on-washington-square
Yes, I had read this before. Thanks!
What about Flaubert’s Sentimental Education? Have you read that?
Oops I missed some of these comments, I'm sorry! I haven't read Sentimental Education. I just got a new translation from the University of Minnesota Press. Maybe time for a return...
A perfect, fascinating little essay!
I'm so glad you liked it!
That passage from “The Aspern Papers” is so lovely.
It's been a long time since I've read any Henry James. The books on my shelves seem to be chastising me . . . .