Showing results by author "Henry James" in All Categories

The Aspern Papers, one of Henry James best-known shorter works, is based on a story he heard about a collector of Shelley's manuscripts who attempted to acquire valuable letters from a mysterious old woman living in Florence. Set in beautiful Venice, James' elegant tale of suspense and romance takes the reader down the canals and inner chambers of a bygone era.

One of the most daunting ghost stories to ever be written, Henry James' The Turn of the Screw follows the transformation of Miles (age 10) and Flora (age eight) from well-behaved children to deceitful liars. When a governess comes to their country estate to look after the children, she and Flora are separately visited by a ghost; however Flora denies the experience and Miles claims to never have been visited by one, even when evidence supports an evil plot between the children and the ghosts.

Published in 1878, portrays the courtship of the beautiful American girl Daisy Miller by Frederick Winterbourne. Winterbourne's pursuit of her is hampered by her own flirtatiousness, which is frowned upon by the other expatriates they meet in Switzerland and Italy. The the novel coments on the contrast between American and European society that is common to James's work.

Step into the whimsical world of The Third Person, a delightful parody that turns the concept of ghostly hauntings on its head. In this charming tale, two increasingly competitive maiden ladies become oddly fascinated by their resident ghostly man about the house, who is far more likely to inspire laughter than fear. This lighthearted narrative tips its hat to the literary past, weaving in a humorous footnote about the Tauchnitz, an unauthorized paperback edition that sparked a comical perspective on smuggling in the eyes of Jamess contemporaries. Join us for a mix of comedy and clever twists ...

Join two men from London as they embark on an adventure in the US, where they encounter a pair of captivating women. The following year, the charm continues when the ladies visit London, setting the stage for romantic entanglements, misunderstandings, and cultural quirks in this delightful short novel. (Summary written by Kristen McQuillin)

In this captivating tale, a renowned painter finds himself unexpectedly reunited with the love of his life during a visit to a charming English country house. However, his astonishment deepens when he discovers that her husband harbors a most unusual quirk. – Summary by Deborah Percy

A country governess is hired to raise two orphaned children in a lonely estate in Essex. But mystery surrounds the house, the grounds, and the children. Haunting questions arise, and Henry James pens one of the most famous ghost stories.

Many critics consider this the best Henry James novelette, surpassing even The Turn of the Screw. Like that story, it has an ending that you will remember for a long time. The story concerns two young men visting the United States from London. They meet a pair of charming women who return the visit the following year in London. Romantic intrigues, miscommunication and cultural gaffs are plentiful in this short but delightful novel.

The Beast in the Jungle is the tale of a man's habitual obsession with himself and his fate.It is is considered one of James' finest short narratives. The story deals with four universal themes: loneliness, fate, love and death. The saga of John Marcher and his peculiar destiny has inspired many readers who have speculated on the worth and meaning of human life.

One of Henry James’ main themes was the interaction between the Old World and the New. Restless Baroness Eugenia Munster and her charming bohemian brother Felix are visiting their American cousins in Boston, New England. The effect these two extravagant characters have on their austere Puritan relations forms the substance of the book and is told in a series of scenes or ‘sketches’.

Daisy Miller is a beautiful and flirtatious rich young American visiting a Swiss spa. There she meets upper class expatriate American, Frederick Winterbourne, who is warned about her reckless ways with men by his aunt. Their relationship and Daisy's with the Italian lawyer Mr. Giovanelli leads to a climactic scene in the Coliseum in Rome, followed by tragedy and regret.

Published in 1901, The Sacred Fount invites readers into the intricate mind of an Englishman during a weekend gathering in the countryside. Seeing himself as a keen observer of human nature, the narrator scrutinizes the interactions of his fellow guests, crafting elaborate theories about their relationships and motivations. As he shares his insights, readers are left to decipher the fine line between his observations and his imagination, making for a thought-provoking exploration of human psychology. (Introduction by S. Kovalchik)

In this captivating tale first published in 1883, Henry James explores the life of an American woman navigating her new life in England. Unlike the upper-class protagonists of his previous works, she hails from the rugged American West, bringing a unique perspective to her transatlantic experience. Join us as we delve into her challenges and triumphs in this richly woven narrative. - Summary by Nicholas Clifford

Dive into the intriguing world of Ivory Tower, an unfinished manuscript that explores the complexities of wealth and power in American society through the eyes of an unsuspecting character. With a style that oscillates between convoluted prose and sharp insight, Henry James invites readers to navigate a labyrinth of inheritance battles and social maneuvering. The first part showcases his unique narrative technique, presenting a narrator as oblivious as the characters themselves, while the second half offers a masterclass in novel development, highlighting the flow of storytelling and resolving...

In the wake of her husbands death, Adela Gereth—a passionate connoisseur of beauty and fine art—strikes up an unexpected friendship with the young Fleda Vetch. Their bond blossoms amidst the garish decor of the Brigstock familys home, where Mrs. Gereth harbors a deep-seated fear that her son Owen, a well-meaning yet somewhat dull young man, may become engaged to Mona, the eldest Brigstock daughter. This impending union threatens to uproot Mrs. Gereth from Poynton, the exquisite house filled with cherished treasures she and her late husband painstakingly curated. Driven by a desire to ...

In this charming comedy, a devoted sister sets out to rein in her siblings outrageous antics amid the glittering chaos of British high society. Experience a delightful exploration of Anglo-American manners and gain a captivating insight into the vibrancy of late Victorian London. Summary by Deborah Percy

FNH Audio present the first in a new series of science fiction short story collections. A journalist on Mars finds himself in the middle of a coup. An underground operative discovers a man with a formula for winning a planetary war. A lone hunter takes to space to bring down the legendary giant space bat. The best of space detectives gets caught up in an interplanetary extortion ring. In Jorgensen's Worlds secret operative Retief gets dispatched to a frozen world to face off an invasion. Peeten is the guard for the last of the Martian water, when an alien drops into his world...

The narrator is a young governess, sent off to a country house to take charge of two orphaned children. She finds a pleasant house and a comfortable housekeeper, while the children are beautiful and charming. But she soon begins to feel the presence of intense evil.

During a trip to Europe, wealthy American businessman Christopher Newman proposes marriage to the scintillating and beautiful aristocrat Claire de Cintré. To his dismay, he comes up against the machinations of her impoverished but proud family, who find Newman to be a vulgar example of the American privileged class. Brilliantly combining elements of comedy, tragedy, romance, and melodrama, this tale of thwarted desire vividly contrasts nineteenth-century American and European manners.

When a handsome young man begins to court Catherine Sloper, she feels she is very lucky. She is a quiet, gentle girl, but neither beautiful nor clever; no one had ever admired her before, or come to the front parlour of her home in Washington Square to whisper soft words of love to her. But in New York in the 1840s young ladies are not free to marry where they please. Catherine must have her father’s permission, and Dr Sloper is a rich man.