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"[James] is the most intelligent man of his generation." -T. S. Eliot
"Reading Henry James is like putting a new faculty to the test. This is the true morality.¿
-Anita Brookner
¿A very modern story about aimless lives and messy marriages¿- Paul Theroux
Henry James¿ What Maisie Knew (1897) is one of the author's most piercing works of fiction, am impassioned look at the events of a young girls life as she is shuffled between her self-absorbed divorced parents. In this astonishingly modern novel, the damaging constructs of society and the illusions of respectability are seen through the perspective of an unforgettable child from her earliest years until a teenager.
Maisie Farange, only six-years old at the onset of the novel, is a child of two narcissistic parents: Beale and Ida, who are only using the young child as a pawn in their own egomaniacal games. As the bitter divorce of her parents is settled in split custody, the emotional cruelty only increases. She is cared for by two governesses; the homely Mrs. Wix at her Mother¿s house, and the beautiful Miss Overmore at her father¿s home. As each parent re-marries much younger spouses, and those relationship in turn fail, Maisie is entangled in a web of moral corruption and psychological abuse. James¿s tragic story of an innocent child caught between the corruption of the adult world is a thought-provoking and devastating meditation on failed responsibility.
About the author
Born in 1843 in New York City, Henry James was the son of theologian Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher William James. He spent his formative years between Europe and America, receiving an eclectic education that exposed him to diverse cultures and ideas. This transatlantic upbringing profoundly influenced his literary perspective, leading him to explore the contrasts between the Old and New Worlds in his works.James's literary career began with short stories and critical essays, but he gained prominence with novels like The American (1877) and Daisy Miller (1878). His writing often delved into the complexities of social interactions and the subtleties of personal relationships, reflecting his keen observations of society. His nuanced characterizations and intricate narratives earned him a reputation as a master of psychological realism.In his later years, James continued to produce significant works, including The Wings of the Dove (1902) and The Ambassadors (1903). He became a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death in 1916, underscoring his deep connection to Europe. Today, Henry James is celebrated as a pivotal figure in 19th-century literature, whose exploration of consciousness and perception paved the way for modernist writers.
Summary
"[James] is the most intelligent man of his generation." -T. S. Eliot
"Reading Henry James is like putting a new faculty to the test. This is the true morality.”
-Anita Brookner
“A very modern story about aimless lives and messy marriages”- Paul Theroux
Henry James’ What Maisie Knew (1897) is one of the author's most piercing works of fiction, am impassioned look at the events of a young girls life as she is shuffled between her self-absorbed divorced parents. In this astonishingly modern novel, the damaging constructs of society and the illusions of respectability are seen through the perspective of an unforgettable child from her earliest years until a teenager.
Maisie Farange, only six-years old at the onset of the novel, is a child of two narcissistic parents: Beale and Ida, who are only using the young child as a pawn in their own egomaniacal games. As the bitter divorce of her parents is settled in split custody, the emotional cruelty only increases. She is cared for by two governesses; the homely Mrs. Wix at her Mother’s house, and the beautiful Miss Overmore at her father’s home. As each parent re-marries much younger spouses, and those relationship in turn fail, Maisie is entangled in a web of moral corruption and psychological abuse. James’s tragic story of an innocent child caught between the corruption of the adult world is a thought-provoking and devastating meditation on failed responsibility.
