Henry James

sun-star · 04-01-2004, 04:10 PM

I really want to enjoy a Henry James novel, but so far I've failed in my ambition. I tried to read "Portrait of a Lady" and "The Wings of the Dove" and couldn't get anywhere with either of them. Is it worth perservering, either with those or another of his novels? Does anyone have any recommendations? (I'm not afraid of long or complicated books, just of ones that go on for pages without... going anywhere)

Mercutio · 04-01-2004, 05:54 PM

Its definitely worth it!

The first Henry James book I read was "Washington Square". Its one of his shorter and earlier novels; not quite as complex as some later ones like "Portrait of a Lady". And it does go somewhere. "Washington Square" was a lot easier to read than "Portrait of a Lady" and "the Bostonians".

sun-star · 04-05-2004, 02:05 PM

Washington Square, duly noted. Thanks

04-01-2004, 04:10 PM	#1
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Henry James I really want to enjoy a Henry James novel, but so far I've failed in my ambition. I tried to read "Portrait of a Lady" and "The Wings of the Dove" and couldn't get anywhere with either of them. Is it worth perservering, either with those or another of his novels? Does anyone have any recommendations? (I'm not afraid of long or complicated books, just of ones that go on for pages without... going anywhere) __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

04-01-2004, 05:54 PM	#2
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	Its definitely worth it! The first Henry James book I read was "Washington Square". Its one of his shorter and earlier novels; not quite as complex as some later ones like "Portrait of a Lady". And it does go somewhere. "Washington Square" was a lot easier to read than "Portrait of a Lady" and "the Bostonians". __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

04-05-2004, 02:05 PM	#3
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Washington Square, duly noted. Thanks __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

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