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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
The Aspern Papers offers a very disagreeable beginning for the modern reader. Although one could be remiss to not mention that it does escalate in the tamest ways. It's a classic story of the manipulator being manipulated. The unnamed narrator is a critic whose monomania nearly brings him to throw away his life, in a sense and it is only prevented by fate, as it were.
Once the reader gets a whiff of what's going on, the crux of the story, it's a breezy read. The sentences might take longer to read, but the reader will find themselves acclimated to them after a few pages. The characters are very drawn out. It essentially involves three characters and all of them don't turn out to be what the reader might expect of them. The Critic, who is supposed to be ruled by reason, gives in to the whims of emotions. Miss Tina, the niece, who begins as a provincial, simple young woman takes a turn and shows her cunning nature by the end. It is so subtle one might almost believe her intentions to be pure. Julia, a 150-year old woman, who begins as a frail old lady worn out by age and ends with a show of strength.
But it is the end that makes the story worth the reader's time. The entire book is a setup to justify the existence of the final scene. 'Now, this is a story,' readers might exclaim. There is pyrotechnics of 'stratagems and spoils.' Of course, none of it could stand up to the shock and horror of the modern story. But once you settle into this small tale, it does seem immensely gratifying.
Once the reader gets a whiff of what's going on, the crux of the story, it's a breezy read. The sentences might take longer to read, but the reader will find themselves acclimated to them after a few pages. The characters are very drawn out. It essentially involves three characters and all of them don't turn out to be what the reader might expect of them. The Critic, who is supposed to be ruled by reason, gives in to the whims of emotions. Miss Tina, the niece, who begins as a provincial, simple young woman takes a turn and shows her cunning nature by the end. It is so subtle one might almost believe her intentions to be pure. Julia, a 150-year old woman, who begins as a frail old lady worn out by age and ends with a show of strength.
But it is the end that makes the story worth the reader's time. The entire book is a setup to justify the existence of the final scene. 'Now, this is a story,' readers might exclaim. There is pyrotechnics of 'stratagems and spoils.' Of course, none of it could stand up to the shock and horror of the modern story. But once you settle into this small tale, it does seem immensely gratifying.
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Aspern Papers is an outstanding novella, not quite as spine tingling as The Turn of the Screw, but still it manages to build suspense around a simple plot of a literary critic masquerading as a lodger in the attempt to get the letters that a famous American poet, Jeffrey Aspern, wrote to an older woman living in an old palace in Venice with her niece. The novel beautifully describes the three main characters--with Venice as a beautifully described fourth character lurking not too far in the background.
The narrator is in many ways very unsympathetic, in that he is lying to his hostess and even pretending to be in love with the hostesses niece just to get his hands on papers they do not want to deliver. But he is also obsessed, serving the higher purpose of the poet Jeffrey Aspern, and also fully honest and transparent with himself about his motives and his means.
The older woman, who is believed to have had an affair with the famous poet in her youth, is in some ways even more interesting--cagey, mercenary, but also deeply private and protective of her legacy.
And then there's her niece, an elderly spinster who is portrayed as naive, loyal to her aunt, but also intrigued and excited about the new stranger who moves in with them.
All three of these characters are increasingly intertwined as the tension builds to a well constructed conclusion.
The narrator is in many ways very unsympathetic, in that he is lying to his hostess and even pretending to be in love with the hostesses niece just to get his hands on papers they do not want to deliver. But he is also obsessed, serving the higher purpose of the poet Jeffrey Aspern, and also fully honest and transparent with himself about his motives and his means.
The older woman, who is believed to have had an affair with the famous poet in her youth, is in some ways even more interesting--cagey, mercenary, but also deeply private and protective of her legacy.
And then there's her niece, an elderly spinster who is portrayed as naive, loyal to her aunt, but also intrigued and excited about the new stranger who moves in with them.
All three of these characters are increasingly intertwined as the tension builds to a well constructed conclusion.
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would! The last chapter was fast paced, which I liked.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i was all set on 4 stars until the ending! For someone who wrote in the 19th century Henry James is a very readable author. you can even easily enjoy him on audiobook format. and its not because he was writing for YA or anything like that. there is a richness in his sentences that is a pleasure to read, unlike someone like Faulkner who is anything but a pleasure to read. and he has deep real characters and realistic plots without all the romantic drivel. gasp, i just realized: James is the opposite of Dickens!!! Everything awful that Dickens does, James does the opposite.
anyways this little novella was excellent. and quite suspenseful. set in Venice. great characters and a great ending. and its based on or inspired by a true story.
anyways this little novella was excellent. and quite suspenseful. set in Venice. great characters and a great ending. and its based on or inspired by a true story.