Product Description

This is a title in an inexpensive range of classics in the "Penguin Popular Classics" series.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #337586 in Books
• Published on: 1994-06-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Customer Reviews

Great short novel by Henry James
A fine novella by Henry James. In the closing decades of the 19th century, an unnamed narrator travels to Venice from the United States under a false pretext, in order to ingratiate himself to an elderly woman living there, so as to get possession of papers that once belonged to a famous poet, who decades ago was the lover of the old lady. The papers are, of course, to use an apt anachronism, a McGuffin for this story. While at the beginning, it looks like the American gentleman is using and exploiting the lady, soon it will seem the opposite situation is taking place, as the lady seems to know more about his intentions than the narrator originally believed. Very well written, it helds one's interest to the very end, and it shows a fine and somewhat corrosive sense of irony that was uncommon in the literature of the time. Very elegant work, yet fairly easy to read. It's quite a modern book, as well, as its obsession with texts is somewhat reminiscent of many 20th century novels.

It's all in the ending.
I admit the early stages of the book impressed me little. It drew me in around the middle and its conclusion certainly achieved closure.

It is a good story but you may not truly realise this until the end - which makes it all worthwhile.