Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
Italien, Venedig, ca 1920
Fortælleren er litterat og specielt interesseret i en Jeremy Aspern. ???
I et lille afsnit tilsidst fortæller Mogens Boisen lidt om Henry James.
Fortælleren er litterat og specielt interesseret i en Jeremy Aspern. ???
I et lille afsnit tilsidst fortæller Mogens Boisen lidt om Henry James.
Genres
Publication
[Kbh.] Carit Andersen [1968] 155 s.
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML: The Aspern Papers is a novella set in Venice. A young man travels to the city and takes lodgings with an old woman�??the former lover of the dead American poet Aspern. The man believes the old woman still has some letters from Aspern and he ingratiates himself with her niece in an attempt to find them. Suspense builds around the motives and actions of James' masterfully drawn characters.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Maquina_Lectora
The Aspern Papers is a novella written by Henry James, originally published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1888. It is the story or rather the quest of an American editor - he is also the unnamed narrator of the story - to obtain a collection of letters by the American Romantic poet Jeffrey Aspern.
He
“See how it glows with the advancing summer, how the sky and the sea and the rosy air and the marble of the palaces all shimmer and melt together.”
This is a fascinating small story; even if you are not a James fan, you would definitely enjoy. Henry James describes skilfully the decaying atmosphere of the damp and gloomy palace. What is more impressive though, is the way he says the story. The narrator presents the events without intense or personal colouration, as they were related not to him, but to a third person. He offers no opinion, no explanation of his unscrupulous behaviour. His desire for these papers is so powerful, his determination to obtain them so strong, that he fails to recognise or rather he chooses to ignore the impact of his behaviour towards the lonely and miserable Miss Tina.
The brilliance in this story is exactly that. Henry James leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions about the narrator’s behaviour. At the end of the story we are still left with unanswered questions. Can morality confront a man’s personal ambition and intellectual curiosity? Ambition is a complex process, can make people liars and cheats, can cause an inability to connect with others emotionally. Is that what happened to the narrator? Are there any limits of morality that he could not transgress in order to obtain the precious papers?
Looking at the picture that it hangs above his writing table, he admits
“I can scarcely bear my loss.”
He
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believes that Juliana Bordereau, an elderly and ill lady who lives in Venice in a dilapidated old palazzo, with her spinster niece Miss Tina, in “obscurity” and “almost on nothing”, is in possession of these unpublished and priceless “literary remains”. In order to get access to them the narrator becomes a lodger of theirs, under a false name. He does not have a plan of how to acquire the papers but it did not make him too miserable, “for the whole situation had the charm of its oddity.” Meanwhile, what better place is to spend summer than in Venice? “See how it glows with the advancing summer, how the sky and the sea and the rosy air and the marble of the palaces all shimmer and melt together.”
This is a fascinating small story; even if you are not a James fan, you would definitely enjoy. Henry James describes skilfully the decaying atmosphere of the damp and gloomy palace. What is more impressive though, is the way he says the story. The narrator presents the events without intense or personal colouration, as they were related not to him, but to a third person. He offers no opinion, no explanation of his unscrupulous behaviour. His desire for these papers is so powerful, his determination to obtain them so strong, that he fails to recognise or rather he chooses to ignore the impact of his behaviour towards the lonely and miserable Miss Tina.
The brilliance in this story is exactly that. Henry James leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions about the narrator’s behaviour. At the end of the story we are still left with unanswered questions. Can morality confront a man’s personal ambition and intellectual curiosity? Ambition is a complex process, can make people liars and cheats, can cause an inability to connect with others emotionally. Is that what happened to the narrator? Are there any limits of morality that he could not transgress in order to obtain the precious papers?
Looking at the picture that it hangs above his writing table, he admits
“I can scarcely bear my loss.”
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LibraryThing member Michael_Mitchell
I was able to read this novella in a day. It wasn't the greatest or most memorable thing I've ever read, but the idea of basing the characters/events on a pseudo-historical situation was interesting. (Is it Byron? Shelley? etc.) The Author's Preface included in this edition is interesting, but a
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little dry ... much like the book itself. Tom Stoppard treated the same subject (a fictional, overzealous Byron scholar) in a much livelier fashion in his play Arcadia. That's the book I'd reccommend. Show Less
LibraryThing member lkernagh
I really liked this one. Having never read any Henry James before, I figured it was best to start out with a novella, just to see if I would like the writing style. Not only did I like the writing style, I really enjoyed the calm, serene manner in which the story unfolds in that wonderful Italian
This story is praised as being a brilliant work of psychological fiction, and I believe it is exactly that. A perfect introduction to Henry James' works, for me anyways, and I am now quite happy to add him to my list of classic authors I am slowly working my way through.
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city, Venice. James does a first rate job communicating the experience of Venice as a warm, delightful one to behold while at the same time shrouding the elderly Miss Bordereau and her spinster niece, Tina under a darkened veil of mystery. The story has no jarring elements to it. Instead, it has a beautiful fluidity to it that made me want to curl up in a chair and just let the story wash over me. Keeping in mind that the story was written well over 100 years ago, the increasingly unscrupulous behavior of our narrator would probably not even cause an eyebrow to be raised today but James does a great job conveying how inappropriate our narrator's thoughts and actions are, making me resent his almost single-minded mission to inveigle his way into the Misses Bordereau's home and lives. It wasn't until the very end before I realized what a wonderful game of cat and mouse has played out in this story. This story is praised as being a brilliant work of psychological fiction, and I believe it is exactly that. A perfect introduction to Henry James' works, for me anyways, and I am now quite happy to add him to my list of classic authors I am slowly working my way through.
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LibraryThing member ElenaDanielson
I just re-read Henry James' novella the "Aspern Papers," again a second time after thirty years. It was first recommended to me in about 1985 by Jean van Heijenoort, Leon Trotsky's secretary and, after the murder, his archivist, as the best depiction of an archivist's passion for finding the papers
There is clear foreshadowing, this is not a spoiler it's early in the story, that the papers turn to ashes...but the tension is in why and how....I love it...but then I'm an archivist. Then in a case of life imitating art, some years after writing the story one of his close friends, Constance Fenimore Woolson, the great niece of Fenimore Cooper, committed suicide, jumping out of the window of her Venetian apartment. Earlier James and Fenimore had shared the same cook and shared meals every night in Florence for weeks. It's known that she had wanted a closer relationship, rather like Miss Tina and the narrator. After her suicide, James ingratiated himself with her family by spending weeks sorting her papers. And her letters from James disappeared along with most of hers to him. Anita Feferman wrote a fine biography of my friend Jean van Heijenoort entitled "Politics, Logic and Love," but she published it after Jean's death. Privacy in legal terms is supposed to end at death. Editing his stories and his own papers, James ensured his privacy and his fame way into the future.
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of a "great man." Even the first time around I certainly appreciated the fine description of a collector's monomania. I've seen archivists turn themselves inside out to ingratiate themselves with the "keeper of the flame" in hopes of scoring the spoils, and at time resorting to flattery, lies, deceptions, phoney friendship, and non-existent jobs. Looking at a small miniature painting of Aspern, the narrator thinks that it is not very well painted, but talking with the old lady, Juliana,the owner of the painting, he praises it highly, and then learns that it was painted by her father. The narrator's relief that he avoided a misstep by avoiding the truth is almost palpable. I've seen this kind of hypocrisy in action many times. Re-reading the story at leisure, I realize that the story is about much more, all about the treacherous moral ground that a biographer or really any historian treads, invading private lives and exposing them to the world. Who has the moral right to do such a thing? James was writing just as emerging technology enabled newspaper photographers to print photos without the permission of the subjects and expose unsuspecting people to the uncaring scrutiny of the masses. James himself was secretive about his private life and his many intense friendships with women as well as men as he roamed Europe. He knew the terrain. The act of publishing is a violation of privacy as Juliana, the owner of the letters accuses the narrator:"Ah you publishing scoundrel!" The narrator is willing to lie, cheat and steal to see the content of the great poet Aspern's private love letters. The narrator knows to keep his own privacy: his real name is not revealed and not even the fictitious name he uses to gain entrance to Juliana's Venetian Palazzo. So he is definitely immoral. But there is more. From start to finish, the unnamed biographer makes snide gratuitous comments denigrating women, particularly Juliana's niece Miss Tina: "It was impossible to allow too much for her simplicity." It's up to the reader to decide what actually causes his defeat. There is an ironic, self-aware soap opera technique at work in the novella, with a cliff hanger or shocker at the end of each chapter, a relic I suppose of the way the book was serialized in its initial publication over several months in "The Atlantic." Chapter two ends in a parody of the serial style: "My emotion keeping me silent she spoke first, and the remark she made was exactly the most unexpected." Chapter ends. This understated self-aware humor is a sheer delight. He wrote under the spell of Florence and Venice, the initial impetus being an ancient English resident in Florence with letters of Byron and Shelley. He shifted the scene from Florence to Venice with all that eerie Venetian light and crumbling grandeur. And he shifted the subject from a fine English poet to a non-existent American, knowing well there never was an American poet in 1820 of the same stature as Byron. Ironic wishful thinking here.There is clear foreshadowing, this is not a spoiler it's early in the story, that the papers turn to ashes...but the tension is in why and how....I love it...but then I'm an archivist. Then in a case of life imitating art, some years after writing the story one of his close friends, Constance Fenimore Woolson, the great niece of Fenimore Cooper, committed suicide, jumping out of the window of her Venetian apartment. Earlier James and Fenimore had shared the same cook and shared meals every night in Florence for weeks. It's known that she had wanted a closer relationship, rather like Miss Tina and the narrator. After her suicide, James ingratiated himself with her family by spending weeks sorting her papers. And her letters from James disappeared along with most of hers to him. Anita Feferman wrote a fine biography of my friend Jean van Heijenoort entitled "Politics, Logic and Love," but she published it after Jean's death. Privacy in legal terms is supposed to end at death. Editing his stories and his own papers, James ensured his privacy and his fame way into the future.
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LibraryThing member hemlokgang
This story began at an excruciatingly slow pace and then improved as it went along. Basically, this is a tale of greed in several forms and the battle between it and higher principles. Quite derogatory towards women if you ask me. The problem is that is is really well written.
LibraryThing member nosajeel
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
When a literary editor discovers that the Juliana who inspired long-dead poet Jeffrey Aspern is still living in Venice and may have letters and other papers relating to the poet, he schemes to get access to the papers. He meets the woman and her niece under an assumed name and insinuates himself
The novella is said to have been inspired by an incident concerning Claire Clairmont, Byron's mistress who long outlived him and who was believed to have papers related to the dead poet. The story suggests that celebrity journalism has a long history, and only the methods have changed. It also provides a snapshot of expatriate life in late 19th century Europe. The unnamed literary editor serves as the first person narrator, and I enjoyed hearing the story read by Adrian Cronauer.
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into their lives. Soon he's involved in a battle of wits with the old woman as he attempts to get her to disclose the existence and location of the poet's papers without revealing his true identity to her. To what lengths will he go to gain his prize?The novella is said to have been inspired by an incident concerning Claire Clairmont, Byron's mistress who long outlived him and who was believed to have papers related to the dead poet. The story suggests that celebrity journalism has a long history, and only the methods have changed. It also provides a snapshot of expatriate life in late 19th century Europe. The unnamed literary editor serves as the first person narrator, and I enjoyed hearing the story read by Adrian Cronauer.
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LibraryThing member bibleblaster
The first person narration leaves the reader in questionable company as the main character unswervingly but increasingly recklessly seeks the object of his passion (the papers of famed poet, Aspern, that provides the title). The self-justification and maneuvers of the narrator, as well as the
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dialogue that leaves us feeling neither person was understanding the other, is expertly drawn. You can see why James is considered a master. Show Less
LibraryThing member P_S_Patrick
This is a novella of 130 pages, set in 1880's Venice. Our protagonist is a writer and critic who studies among other things the works of Jeffrey Aspern, a famous deceased American poet. He is on the trail of Aspern's undiscovered papers, which he believes to be in possession of one of his more
It is a story of obsession, tension, and psychology. Henry James is a fine writer who not only knows how to write good prose, but also how to pace a story and tell a good tale.
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obscure past lovers, who now at an advanced age is infirm and confined to a secluded dusty Venetian palazzo. The story tells of our hero's efforts to inveigle his way into the household of the elderly lady in order to gain possession of the papers. It is a story of obsession, tension, and psychology. Henry James is a fine writer who not only knows how to write good prose, but also how to pace a story and tell a good tale.
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LibraryThing member Frenzie
Well written and suspenseful, but it seemed like run of the mill James to me. Which is still pretty good, mind you.
LibraryThing member stillatim
I love late James, but there's also a lot to be said for this sweet spot in the middle period. The sentences unfurl in a slightly less complicated way, the ideas are more evident, the characters less opaque, their thoughts less interminable. The Aspern Papers is my ideal beach read: I can lie back
Unfortunately, it's hard to take seriously the idea that a literary critic would get this excited about the personal papers of a nineteenth century American poet. Why bother, really? What could you possibly learn? I just pretended it was actually about Gerard Manley Hopkins.
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and enjoy the plot and paragraphs, I don't have to parse the language, and at the end I still feel like I've done my brain some good and become a better person. Also a very Venetian book; I hope to read it in Venice one day. Unfortunately, it's hard to take seriously the idea that a literary critic would get this excited about the personal papers of a nineteenth century American poet. Why bother, really? What could you possibly learn? I just pretended it was actually about Gerard Manley Hopkins.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Aspern Papers is a novella by Henry James that was originally published in 1888. This work is based on the true story about a famous poet’s private papers being held by his muse. In this piece the nameless narrator, an American literary scholar, goes to Venice to find Juliana Bordereau, an
James has created a very interesting story from this situation since it is such a short story, I don’t want to give too many plot details away. But as the obsessed narrator works his deception and manipulates the lonely and sensitive Tita, we are wondering exactly what he will do in order to get the documents. At the same time, one does have to consider the narrator’s opinion – that Juliana has a moral responsibility to share this celebrated poet’s work with his admirers.
I really enjoyed The Aspern Papers and in particular was very satisfied by how the author ended this story. I have now read three of Henry James’ novellas and have liked all of them, so it is probably time that I tackled one of his full length novels.
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old lover of Jeffrey Aspern, a famous but deceased American poet. Pretending to have an interest in Miss Bordereau’s spinster niece, Tita, he suggests that he should lodge with them at their villa in the hopes of getting his hands on the personal letters and papers left by Jeffrey Aspern.James has created a very interesting story from this situation since it is such a short story, I don’t want to give too many plot details away. But as the obsessed narrator works his deception and manipulates the lonely and sensitive Tita, we are wondering exactly what he will do in order to get the documents. At the same time, one does have to consider the narrator’s opinion – that Juliana has a moral responsibility to share this celebrated poet’s work with his admirers.
I really enjoyed The Aspern Papers and in particular was very satisfied by how the author ended this story. I have now read three of Henry James’ novellas and have liked all of them, so it is probably time that I tackled one of his full length novels.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1888
Physical description
155 p.; 18.5 cm
Local notes
Omslag: Ikke angivet
Omslaget viser en stiliseret tegning af en gondol uden passagerer, hvor der står en mand i bagenden og stager
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra amerikansk "The Aspern papers" af Mogens Boisen
Gutenberg, bind 211
Omslaget viser en stiliseret tegning af en gondol uden passagerer, hvor der står en mand i bagenden og stager
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra amerikansk "The Aspern papers" af Mogens Boisen
Gutenberg, bind 211
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Pages
155
DDC/MDS
| 813.4 |