The Princess Casamassima

by Henry James, Derek Brewer (Editor)

Overview

The illegitimate and impoverished son of a dressmaker and a nobleman, Hyacinth Robinson has grown up with a strong sense of beauty that heightens his acute sympathy for the inequalities that surround him. Drawn into a secret circle of radical politics he makes a rash vow to commit a violent act of terrorism. But when the Princess Casamassima - beautiful, clever and bored - takes him up and introduces him to her own world of wealth and refinement, Hyacinth is torn. He is horrified by the destruction that would be wreaked by revolution, but still believes he must honour his vow, and finds himself gripped in an agonizing and, ultimately, fatal dilemma. A compelling blend of psychological observation, wit and compassion, The Princess Casamassima (1886) is one of Henry James's most deeply personal novels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141922102
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	04/27/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	608
Sales rank:	935,616
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Henry James (1843-1916) was born in New York and settled in Europe in 1875. He was a regular contributor of reviews, critical essays, and short stories to American periodicals. He is best known for his many novels of American and European character.

Date of Birth:

April 15, 1843

Date of Death:

February 28, 1916

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Place of Death:

London, England

Education:

Attended school in France and Switzerland; Harvard Law School, 1862-63

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; General editors' preface; General chronology of James's life and writings; Introduction; Textual introduction; Chronology of composition and production; Bibliography; The Princess Casamassima; Glossary of foreign words and phrases; Notes; Textual variants; Emendations; Appendix: preface to the New York Edition.