Rating: 
Summary: Top 100 novel
Review: This novel is certainly in the top 100 ever written. James explores the nuances of thought and emotion in a way that no other writer before or since has mastered. A charming plot, that of young Isabel Archer, an American heiress, off to seek her destiny in Europe, and the romances and troules that befall her. You have to read this book to understand the depth of understanding this writer is able to reach.
Rating: 
Summary: a master and his mistress.
Review: this, my first novel by henry james, was recommended to me by a trusted friend privy to my affection for the work of austen, the brontes, wharton, bowen and hall. i must admit to having had reservations about a victorian novel with a female protragonist written by a man, but was pleasantly surprised to find that james had depicted the female perspective, in isabel archer, with notable aplomb. i was a little disappointed that, in spite of the book's length, i felt there was a huge leap from the first half of the book, which firmly establishes the young miss archer as a woman intent to never marry and the second half, which finds her rather abruptly married to the third of three men who have made the appeal to her. still, this is a classic work of literature that deserves all the praise it has received. it is far more dense than works by the aforementioned authors and, as such, makes awful subway reading--unless, of course, your train breaks down and there are no crying children or blaring boom boxes in your car.
|
