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piyaplumploo 's review for:
Washington Square
by Henry James
3.5 Stars.
Very much in the tradition of Jane Austen - in that it is a commentary on the society of its time, presenting portraits that represent the conventional roles expected within it, and relationships dictated by it.
Instinctively you will want to read through this fast, but it is one to be read slowly instead to appreciate the nuances. It is another thing altogether that none of the characters are very likeable (and maybe that’s why it’s best this is a short novel). However, despite this and the limited plot, it‘s packed with dialogue, which is where the richness of the novel lies. I think James is masterful in his detail at moments where nothing is really happening, because he tells so much with very little.
At the novel’s end you realise that it is because she is the only truthful person in the novel that Catherine Sloper cannot see that Morris Townsend is only playing a part with her, or that similarly her father too is only playing a part. On the contrary, because these two men are so conscious of the roles they themselves are acting out, they seem to recognise and understand each other perfectly well. And while Mrs Almond is the voice of objectivity and moderation, Mrs Penniman, well she is just the (stupid but dangerous) comic relief.
I read that he himself disliked this novel of his, and was embarrassed by it - so I don’t know if this is the best introduction to Henry James, or if this was representative of his style, but I did enjoy it. Looking forward to gaining more of an understanding of him. Open to suggestions about which of his novels to read next.
Very much in the tradition of Jane Austen - in that it is a commentary on the society of its time, presenting portraits that represent the conventional roles expected within it, and relationships dictated by it.
Instinctively you will want to read through this fast, but it is one to be read slowly instead to appreciate the nuances. It is another thing altogether that none of the characters are very likeable (and maybe that’s why it’s best this is a short novel). However, despite this and the limited plot, it‘s packed with dialogue, which is where the richness of the novel lies. I think James is masterful in his detail at moments where nothing is really happening, because he tells so much with very little.
At the novel’s end you realise that it is because she is the only truthful person in the novel that Catherine Sloper cannot see that Morris Townsend is only playing a part with her, or that similarly her father too is only playing a part. On the contrary, because these two men are so conscious of the roles they themselves are acting out, they seem to recognise and understand each other perfectly well. And while Mrs Almond is the voice of objectivity and moderation, Mrs Penniman, well she is just the (stupid but dangerous) comic relief.
I read that he himself disliked this novel of his, and was embarrassed by it - so I don’t know if this is the best introduction to Henry James, or if this was representative of his style, but I did enjoy it. Looking forward to gaining more of an understanding of him. Open to suggestions about which of his novels to read next.