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466 reviews for:

Washington Square

Henry James

3.57 AVERAGE


"No estoy ni mucho menos convencido de que ella lo haya dejado –dijo el doctor–. No es mínimamente posible que haya entrado en razón así, sin más, cuando lleva dos años siendo terca como una mula. Es infinitamente más probable que haya sido él quien la ha dejado a ella.
–Razón de más para que seas amable con ella.
–Y soy amable con ella, lo que no soy es patético. No puedo ponerme a bombear lágrimas, por delicadeza, cuando esto es lo mejor que a Catherine le ha ocurrido en la vida.
–No tienes compasión –dijo la señora Almond–. Ése nunca ha sido tu punto fuerte. Basta con verla para saber que, para bien o para mal, y lo mismo da de quién venga la ruptura, la pobrecilla tiene el corazón lleno de heridas."

Whasington Square, 1880
Henry James
@albaeditorial
Traducción de Catalina Martínez

Basada libremente en una anécdota que llegó a James a través de una amiga, esta brillante novela corta es un magnífico retrato de la estricta y convencional sociedad neoyorquina de finales del XIX.
Al autor le bastan apenas 200 páginas y 4 personajes para narrar la historia de Catherine Sloper, joven tímida y poco agraciada, huérfana de madre y que convive con su autoritario padre, el doctor Sloper y su tía Lavinia, viuda a su vez de un clérigo.
En palabras de su propio padre, Catherine no ha heredado ni la belleza ni el encanto de su madre y parece destinada a transitar de forma opaca por los salones y languidecer a la sombra de su progenitor.

De forma inesperada, Morris Townsend, un apuesto y encantador cazador de fortuna se cruzará en su camino y alentada por la imaginación pueril y romántica de su tía, Catherine cae perdidamente enamorada.

Muy, muy recomendable la versión cinematográfica rodada en 1949 por William Wyler y protagonizada por Olivia de Havilland y Monty Clift en estado de gracia.

#washingtonsquare #henryjames #leoclásicos #leeresvivir #leermola #libros #americanclassic
reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I bought this book awhile back, but I couldn't really remember why until I recently brought it on an airplane to read. It only took a few pages to realize that I had seen a great old film based on it- 1949's "The Heiress" with Olivia deHavilland and Montgomery Clift- and had wanted to compare it. Well, for me, reading the book AFTER seeing the movie is just never very satisfying and this was no exception. It's a good book, and I definitely want to read more of James. But, in this case, I think I actually liked the film better...

My introduction to the classics a hundred years ago— it was a wonderful discovery. I’ll always be thankful for that found book and that long car ride.
challenging reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ok. So the writing was beautiful and I loved that it took place in Manhattan over 100 years ago. But listen, if you read this and expect something to actually happen (anything, anything at all to move the plot along) then you will be sorely mistaken.
lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Although it is not one of the best stories I have ever read, it was nice enough. I found it very refreshing that a nineteenth-century novel (or novella in this case) can have a heroine who is not the epitome of beauty and grace. I love a good Victorian romance, but this story full of promise, disappointment, and above all money, is something different for a change.

This was a rereading, and I enjoyed James's style and cruel wit far more this time.