Henry James, página 16 de 58

Durante la última de sus estancias de finde semana en la gran mansión Newmarch, en la campiña inglesa,el narrador de esta historia tiene ocasión de observar asombrosastransformaciones en algunos de los huespedes: una mujer fea se havuelto inexplicablemente bella, un joven ha envejecido de forma exagerada,un imbecil exhibe una inteligencia deslumbrante..., en definitiva,unos mejoran mientras otros empeoran. El protagonista espia y analizaestos fenomenos, tratando de encontrar la clave del enigma en unasupuesta serie de misteriosos intercambios de fuerza vital.Lafontana sagrada es una de las ultimas obras que escribioHenryJames, y sin duda se trata de una de las novelas mas insolitasy originales de la literatura moderna. Fue escrita no mucho despuesde Otra vuelta de tuerca, de la cual es una especie de complementoo pieza gemela. Ambas tienen en comun el mismo telon de fondode una gran mansion aislada del mundo exterior, los mismos parajesde una belleza triste y extraña, acontecimientos parejamente furtivosy turbadores dentro de una atmosfera de luminosidad y brillo, yun narrador en primera persona que se enfrenta a prodigios no comprobablescientificamente.

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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.

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La jaula a la que alude esta novela es la oficina de correos en la que una humilde joven se halla confinada, despachando sellos y telegramas a lo más florido del elegante distrito londinense de Mayfair. Para su clientela la chica no tiene mas sentimientos que un buzon; pero en los oscuros textos de sus telegramas es capaz de adivinar terribles secretos e intimidades. Publicada en 1898, En la jaula es una leccion magistral sobre el arte del punto de vista, y una ocasion extraordinaria para conocer a un Henry James social, moviendose en los abismos de las clases asalariadas como en los de las clases ociosas, sin merma de soltura ni de penetracion. Encuadernacion: Rustica.

In "Poor Richard," Henry James skillfully navigates the complexities of identity and cultural displacement through the lens of an American expatriate in Europe. This novella is marked by Jamess signature psychological realism and intricate prose, as he delves into themes of ambition, morality, and the contrasting societal norms of America and Europe. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, the narrative explores the protagonists struggles with his aspirations and the societal expectations he encounters, encapsulating the tension between personal desire and social responsibility. The literary context of this work reflects the late 19th-century fascination with transatlantic encounters and the American search for authenticity abroad. Henry James, an eminent figure of American literature, spent much of his life in Europe, profoundly influencing his perspectives on identity and cultural duality. His own experiences as an expatriate and his keen observations of both American and European life serve as a backdrop to "Poor Richard." Jamess literary career was characterized by a fascination with the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in a complex social fabric, which is acutely reflected in this novella. "Poor Richard" is a compelling read for those interested in the intersections of culture and selfhood. Readers will find Jamess nuanced character exploration and rich narrative style both engaging and rewarding. This work offers invaluable insights into the psychological and societal dynamics of the era, solidifying its place in the canon of American literature.

Contents: / The Velvet Glove / Mora Montravers / A Round of Visits / Crapy Cornelia / The Bench of Desolation

Contents: / The Figure in the Carpet / Glasses / The Next Time / The Way it Came

Daisy Miller, scritto nel 1878, e considerato uno dei capolavori dello scrittore americano Henry James. Ritratto intenso di una giovane americana che, nella buona societa europea (la trama si dipana dalla Svizzera alla stupenda e decadente Roma dei papi), viene giudicata troppo libera (se ne va a passeggio per Roma dopo il tramonto, sola con un giovanotto che non e nemmeno il suo fidanzato...) e quindi imperdonabilmente poco seria, e messa al bando; solo dopo la sua morte improvvisa sapremo, insieme al protagonista narratore, che Daisy era assolutamente innocente, non una civetta o peggio, ma semplicemente una ragazza libera, indipendente, spontanea e disinteressata, amante del passeggiare e vagabondare, oppressa dai lacci delle convenzioni sociali che imprigionavano le donne. Eroina femminista ante litteram, Daisy viene posta, dalla narrazione del co-protagonista Winterbourne, in una situazione culturale considerata "naturale" nella cultura patriarcale, fino allinvisibilita: la donna, priva di voce e di pensiero, oggetto dinterpretazione e di giudizio; luomo, detentore dellautorita del punto di vista, titolato a interpretare e giudicare.