The Other House (published in 1896) - By Henry James, the story of a murder

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The other house is a dark murder mystery by Henry james and a one of a the kind from his stable. James never wrote a dark tale again and none of his upright characters ever could commit murder. This tale of raw passion between three women and a man resulting in the death of a child is somewhat disturbing in its essence.
The tale starts with two houses separated by a river, one being East-Mead, presided by the matronly widow Mrs. Beever along with her slow witted son Paul, the other house is the Bounds where the newly wedded couple, Tony and Julia Bream live. Julia is often haunted by the abuse at the hands of her stepmother and dies while giving birth to her child. On her death bed she extracts a promise from Tony that he would never marry and give her daughter a stepmother. Tony in his grief promises and brings up Effie his daughter on his own.



Rose Armiage is Julia's childhood friend, who nurses a deep love for Tony. She views Effie an impediment for her goal as Tony is duty bound not to bring in a step mother. Tony loves Jean Martle a simple girl next door. She too returns his ardor and understand his predicament. Rose is engaged to Denis Vidal a energetic world traveler. She keeps Denis on tenterhooks, by not accepting or rejecting his proposals, trying to woo Tony for a commitment. Rose in love almost becomes deranged when she realizes the presence of Jean Martle in Tony's life and love turns into lunacy.
Rose drowns little Effie and tries to frame Jean for the act. But an alert doctor and couple of inquiries actually help others to zero in to the culprit. But here lies the agony and twist in the tale. Rose is sent away with Denis and everything is hushed up. Tony and Jean get to marry as the only obstacle in their way is removed by Rose.
This dark tale without a trace of justice for poor Effie is dreadful and scary. Rose's lunacy horrifies even the toughest of men and even Tony's sense of justice “Her doom will be to live” does not hold water. Sometimes the reader is forced to believe that Tony is relieved about the murder as no sense of attachment is shown towards the child. This book was also pillaged by the critics for tis lack of depth and lack of relationships. You can read it for once but there are better books written by Henry James.

The Spoils of Poynton (published in 1897) - A story about the struggle between a mother and son, by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Fleda Vetch is a principled but poor lady who is unwittingly caught between a property dispute between Mrs. Gereth and her son Owen. Owen inherits Poynton, the Jacobean Family home filled with antique treasures collected over the years by Mrs. Gereth and her late husband. Owen being the new owner wants his mother to move out so that he can bring in his bride Mona Brigstock. Mrs. Gereth reviles Mona for her coarseness and regards her as a philistine. She feels that Mona with no taste is unsuitable to oversee her treasure.



Owen asks Fleda to be the go-between and convince his mother. She is sympathetic to Mrs. Gereth, but asks her to respect Owens wishes. Mrs. Gereth finds a wonderful opportunity to save her treasures and urges Owen to marry Fleda. She even moves to a small house which later Fleda finds to be overflowing with treasures stolen from Poynton. Here Owen and Mona's engagement hit a road-block ad Mona insists on the return of the treasures. During this Owen finds Fleda's simplicity attractive and proposes to her.
Fleda does not agree to the proposal and asks Owen to personally break up with Mona for her to accept his suit. Mrs. Gereth finding Mona out of the picture returns the antiques to Poynton and goes with Fleda out of the town. But soon a telegram reaches them that Mona and Owen are married and both of them are shattered. A letter from Owen reaches Fleda, thanking her for her effort and he asks her to pick an antique of her choice as a keepsake. Fleda on reaching Poynton finds it completely gutted by fire and is left to stare at the timing of fate.
This novel had appeared in a serialized version for the Atlantic Monthly and later was published as a novel. James chronicles the tendency of acquisition among us and derides the act of collection of treasures. His indictment is stronger for Mrs. Gereth who puts her antiques above her relationships. Personally I find the principled Fleda, not very attractive as she keeps on wavering her stand. Owen would be better of marrying Mona because she knows her mind even though it is about money. This novel with such a comic theme is a must for all Henry James's fans.

The Wings of the Dove (published in 1902) - Story of an afflicted lady, written by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Wings of the Dove is one of Henry James's most acclaimed novel, incorporating the the clash of American and European sensibilities woven through a love story. Kate Croy and Merton Densher are lovers whose union has many impediments. Kate is a daughter of an impoverished, disgraced lawyer who is living with an autocratic Aunt. Her Aunt Maud Lowder bars her from having any contact with her family and Densher as they have no social standing. Kate loves Densher, but cannot bring herself to earn her aunts wrath or worse getting disinherited from her riches. So in to this conundrum, a rich American Heiress, Milly Theale arrives with her companion. She explores the London society which totally toasts her because of her money and she finds a friend in Kate.



Milly is seriously ill, even though her doctor is non-committal she feels that her days are numbered and confides many of her secrets to Kate. Kate comes to know that Milly's old flame is none other than Densher and she formulates a audacious plan which may leave the two lovers free to marry after all. Kate conceals her love for Densher and encourages him to shower attentions on Milly. An unsuspecting Milly falls for the trap and for Densher. She travels to Venice with Densher and Kate in tow. Here Kate confides to Densher that Milly is seriously ill and he may inherit her fortune which can enable him to marry her.
Milly but comes to know about the love trap through her old suitor, Lord Mark and turns seriously ill. It is easy to make plans but requires mental toughness to go through it. Densher witnesses Milly's suffering and his resolve wavers and in the end it sickens him. The fact that Milly was in the know when she died cripples his conscience again. Milly still leaves a large part of her money for him and her act of forgiveness from the grave deals the ultimate blow for the well laid plans.
Densher tells Kate that she has to make a choice – it is the money or him. He is ready to bequeath all of it to Kate if she chooses the envelope over him. Kate and Densher part knowing that life would never be same for them again. This amazing story is a bit verbose and meandering, so it requires a bit of patience to keep at it. Better keep a dictionary by your side because there are a lot of tough words to decipher. But if you keep at it, you may be a part of something very beautiful and poignant. This soul stirring story is one of Henry James's best works.

The Sacred Fount (published in 1901) - A strange book, written by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Sacred Fount is a theory espousing, jargon filled book by Henry James which may be incomprehensible for many. At least it was for me and to put the book down after twenty five odd pages was a real temptation. The whole book coils and uncoils like a huge python which has just eaten and just cannot do anything else. It smells the air just to satisfy the curiosity and lies down listlessly again. Even the staunchest of Henry James's fans would not be able to digest this humongous waste of paper which ultimately amounts to nothing.



The novel starts with an unnamed narrator getting on the train to Newsmarch to immerse himself in his social circle for the weekend. Many critics point out that the narrator is Henry James himself and sometimes I am not surprised. To be going to your brilliant circle who do not have much to do, but to eavesdrop on idle sexual gossip sounds to be a good time for an author. Anyways the narrator espouses a new theory that he can divine the love lives of his fellows with out any detective work, just by observation and knowledge, phew!!!!. So to prove his theory he spies on poor Gilbert Long who seems to be radiating vitality unlike his earlier avatars. So he feels that Long might be channeling some sexual energy from a poor lover like a vampire-- so the vampire theory of attraction comes to being.
He spots Mrs. Brissenden who is looking 10 years younger than her haggard earlier self. Again the vampire theory comes to the fore – that the sacred fount of sexual energy is tapped from some poor soul. He sees a lady May server looking listless and immediately deduces that she is Long's lover. Soon at the party he espouses his theory to everyone, especially a Ford Obert, about who is giving whose energy etc etc. I think it is a miracle that Ford Obert survived the weekend at Newsmarch or worse the narrator escaped from him.
So these tedious discourses do mercifully come to an end when he has a midnight encounter with Mrs. Briss, who tells him to can his bottle of worms. She essentially terms his theories utter rubbish, which is evident for the readers and tells him point blank that he is crazy. The narrator is left overwhelmed and the readers put to their hands together for the dear Mrs. Briss. If you love the inexplicable, immeasurable, unknowable and crazy arguments, this book is for you. If you are a sane, good chap you can really do with out it.

The Golden Bowl (Published in 1904) - A complex story by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Golden bowl is a coming of age story of Maggie Verver who discards her childhood naiveté and assumes her marital responsibilities. She is the only child of Adam Verver, the wealthy financier and falls in love with an charismatic but impoverished Italian Prince Amerigo. Maggie's childhood friend Charlotte was the Prince's mistress during his early days in Rome. But Maggie unaware of this past connections introduces Charlotte and the Prince and deputes her to show the prince around. Charlotte and the Prince go shopping for a wedding present for Maggie. They see a gilded crystal bowl which Charlotte likes but the Prince declines it insisting on a secret flaw.



Maggie after her marriage is more concerned about her father's loneliness and asks him to propose to Charlotte. Charlotte and Adam get married and move with Maggie in Europe. Both the Prince and Charlotte feel left out between the Father and Daughter and soon start their own affair.
Maggie soon become suspicious about her husband and her suspicions are confirmed when she buys a gilded Crystal bowl. The shop keeper on visiting her house confirms the intimacy displayed in his shop by Charlotte and the Prince. Maggie takes stock of the situation calmly and proceeds to salvage her marriage with precision and tact. She persuades her father to move back to the states with Charlotte. Amerigo is impressed by her confidence and diplomacy, and he falls in love with her all over again. Maggie takes the threads of her life in her own hands and grows up from a daddy's girl to a responsible wife and adult.
The Golden Bowl focuses on the four characters and all others pale themselves in to obscurity. Henry James language and prose have their own separate signature style. The story is a very strong one about relationships and each incident is dissected and presented before the reader. No incident is insignificant in his style of writing. There is a heavy dose of symbolism which is a clear departure from his other novels. The golden bowl which ultimately breaks is taken from the biblical passage from the book of ecclesiastics 12:6, “the golden bowl be broken, then shall the dust return to the earth as it was". The dramatization stresses the need for the tactful resolution of marital problems which would go a long way in cementing a relationship.
Good book to read.

The Ambassadors (published in 1903) - A dark comedy, written by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Ambassadors is one of most fulfilling book penned by Henry James and chronicles again the American and European way of life. Here Young America is portrayed as a puritan stiff culture which stifles the lives of its citizens, where as European Paris with its Joie de vivre, is completely satisfying.



Lambert Strether is a Puritan New England citizen who is engaged to a wealthy industrialist widow Mrs. Newsome. But his fiancée agrees to the wedding only if he can bring her wayward son, Chad from Paris. So Strether leaves for Paris and alights in London where he meets witty Maria Gostrey, whose opinions leave him shaken. He leaves for Paris and meets Chad who to his amazement is a young man with impeccable manners. Through Chad he meets Madame Marie de Vionnet whose beauty and sophistication allures him. Strether feels the air changing around him and the fun and beauty takes hold of his being. He enjoys the sights and actions in the new city accompanied by many of his friends. All the more his attraction for Marie, questions his commitment to return to New England to marry Chad's mother.
Strether drinking in the new experiences confides in Young Bilham, Chad's friend that he has missed many life defining moments and makes up his mind to be part of the Parisian scene. Mrs. Newsome dispatches a new set of Ambassadors who involve Chad's sister, Sarah and her husband. They are invulnerable to the charms of Paris and even behave like uncouth sailors upon their arrival.
Strether meanwhile comprehends that there is a amazing romantic relationship between Marie and Chad and is forced to check his feelings. He feels bad to break them up and make Chad return to the stifling atmosphere of New England. He advises Chad to stay loyal to Marie in Paris and plans his way home.
Ambassadors is again a typical Henry James novel, long, verbose and defining. Each situation and decisions are weighed through the pages and requires a lot of patience and dexterity to stay on course. But the story and prose is bound to hold your attention and you grow in to it. It is definitely not one of your slam bang novels which holds you at the first word. Love for Henry james comes at a leisurely pace and therefore is long lasting.

What Maisie Knew (published in 1897) - Written by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What Maisie Knew is an account of a child growing in a dysfunctional family. This novel was initially serialized in the the monthly called Chap book and later taken up by the New York Review. Henry James follows the travails of Maisie from childhood to adulthood totally abandoned by her biological parents.



Maisie is the daughter of Ida and Beale who are an estranged perpetually squabbling couple. After their divorce the judge decrees the custody of Maisie to be split and the poor child shuttles between the parents, six months a year. Both Ida and Beale use her for furthering their hurt and are hardly sensitive to her needs.
Both her parents marry, Ida to Claude, a bumbling simple man, and Beale, to Maisie's pretty governess. Maisie gets a new governess, the funny, klutzy but devoted Mrs. Wix. Ida and Beale settle down with their spouses and their extramarital affairs, Maisie is all the more neglected. Many a time her own parents abandon her in the most heartbreaking manner and the lonely Maisie becomes the responsibility of the bumbling Mr. Claude. As her parents alienate their new spouses, both Claude and Mrs. Beale start having an affair. Soon Maisie must make a choice to remain with her parents or with Claude. AS she is holidaying in France, Maisie realizes that Claude's marriage would also end up in a divorce as they do not have a firm standing on values. Maisie chooses her frumpy but devoted governess Mrs. Wix as her new guardian.
Henry James was never a father but he portrays the fear and tribulations of a dark childhood very earnestly. Through this book James lashes out against the growing erosion of values in family life and gives the ultimate sufferers in a broken marriage, the children, a voice. When this was published initially the critics were of mixed views. But this book is also relevant in our contemporary society where divorce and single parent homes are more common. This book gives the dos and dont's for child rearers and the need for bringing up a child in a balanced environment.