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Un episodio internacional
Un episodio internacional (1887), deliciosa novela corta de Henry James, traducida por Gabriela Díaz, ahonda en le contraste entre el viejo y el nuevo mundo, dándole la vuelta irónicamente al tópico del momento, que mostraba ávidas yánquis a la caza de un buen partido aristocrático británico. Aquí, ni Lord Lambeth ni la joven bostoniana Bessie Alden cumplen con las expectativas de la "parte contraria". Pero más alla de las vicisitudes y sorpresas de la trama y su inesperado final, tenemos un certero análisis simétrico que contrapone la conservadora y clasista sociedad británica a la nueva y pujante sociedad norteamericana.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1876
19 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Henry James
4,584 books3,952 followersHenry James was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the son of Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James.
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 15, 2025
There’s a geometric structure to this: essentially two males and two females, two countries divided by a common language. So sewing together symmetrical set pieces we dare ask if such mirrored the divided loyalties of the author? It starts as a satire of generalizations and miscommunication and then takes a darker turn. It becomes less a battle of the sexes but more a somber nod to egalitarianism.
James begins by honoring a tradition and then intentionally blurs matters by defining agency, even if the fragile will in question is simply curious, free of mercenary tendencies.
I certainly enjoyed this, but it does extend itself towards the more accomplished works of the Master’s oeuvre.
James begins by honoring a tradition and then intentionally blurs matters by defining agency, even if the fragile will in question is simply curious, free of mercenary tendencies.
I certainly enjoyed this, but it does extend itself towards the more accomplished works of the Master’s oeuvre.
January 2, 2015
Working through Henry James's tales in chronological order, this one sticks in the craw. It is very much like chamber music, with two principal men (an elder and a younger), two principal women (an elder and a younger) and, at the climax, two intruding women (an elder and a younger). The players go through their designated parts but one (the younger male) drags his feet with regard to the younger principal woman and she refuses to follow the social rules. There is an impasse but she chooses not to be tragic, so the ending is not that... and yet, unspoken feelings are involved and the work stands as one of James's powerful evocations of the clash between American and English culture. The young man doesnt have the guts to stand up for himself. The young lady sees little value in English traditions. There can be no happy ending, but for once there is at least no really tragic one... although one can't help wondering what the world has to offer this independent-minded, self-possessed, less than wealthy young American woman.
April 10, 2009
This book is James' least 'veiled' attempt at analyzing the divide between Britain and the US. One always senses in his work a mixed loyalty to his home country and his adopted one making the reading of his novels more interesting than if he solely sat from one side of the Atlantic and threw volleys to the other. As always, expertly crafted and written. And the ending was so abrupt, almost exhilarating in its nothingness, the making of a decision that closes the window to the character's world and the novel.
August 29, 2022
Henry James is fascinating to me. Most of his MCs I've seen are usually young women who defy societal expectations when it comes to gender roles of the time. Yet even though he goes to great extents to empower them for pages and pages, he never allows them to have a happy ending or an ending that matches their personality
October 25, 2019
Well, Henry James light is still pretty good. This one tries to move from humorous to heavy at the end but, well, it just sort of fell flat for me. Granted it's a tale of frivolous people being frivolous so to argue that it's too frivolous is, perhaps, to miss the point. Still, I found it frivolous--and perhaps I didn't like that because I wanted the character in love to overcome frivolity. He might have done--but it's offstage--and of course he's thwarted by the frivolity of the woman for whom he's fallen--or do you suppose she rejects him because the whole thing, at that point, threatens to overturn their collective frivolity? I found it a bit mysterious but not in a pleasing way. It made me yearn to read some better James for it's been a while since I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2012
I love this of all his treatments of Europeans vs Americans, it is the most concentrated and elegant.
June 27, 2020
Leer a James siempre es una experiencia fantástica. Y esta novelita es una delicia, me ha encantado.
July 16, 2008
Two different cultures and very different persons makes for a very interesting interactions and interpretations of events and actions. Sad that conventions and our society demand so much that is hypocritical of us. One day we will be able to just be who we are and be correctly known by others without prejudice.
October 12, 2020
I wanted to read The Turn of the Screw, was checking Henry James's other novellas, started reading this one just to get a sense of what his writing is like, and ended up reading till the end. Nothing complex, very short, but vivid, could imagine every scene clearly, a smooth read when I am having difficulty reading in general.
July 4, 2019
7/4/19 edit: Okay, so nine years later I remember approximately nothing about this story but gosh I must have been worked up by that ending if it made me drop off a whole star. :'D
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If it had ended differently I would have given it a four. As it was, I am disappointed by the ending.
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If it had ended differently I would have given it a four. As it was, I am disappointed by the ending.
April 13, 2025
I listened to the Librivox version of this, and it was done very well Compared to some Librivox audio books.
I found it very interesting to listen in on high society during the 19th century or early 20th century. This was also a nice study in class Society and cultural differences.
I found it very interesting to listen in on high society during the 19th century or early 20th century. This was also a nice study in class Society and cultural differences.
July 2, 2020
Do I...like James now? I did not see that coming.
July 20, 2019
James plays with a major issue of his personal life (born and raised in the US but spent much of his life in England, eventually becoming a citizen in the year of his death), and of his time and place generally: the interaction between individuals from England and America around the turn of the 19th into the 20th century. I’ve come across something similar in Wodehouse (although a bit later). It is great material – the class conscious, historical behemoth of the declining empire of England and the vital and growing financial contender of the democratic US – played out in courtship interactions as wealthy individuals cross and recross the Atlantic.
James deals with his characters with a relatively light touch, much as, say, Lou Reed doesn’t spell out exactly what we’re to think of the colourful people in his songs. This isn’t to say he’s not aware of amusing foibles, and fans of Austen would feel very much at home with not only the manners, but also the fun being had at a lack of self-awareness (such as Mrs Westgate’s repeated lamentation/assertion that ‘we have no leisure class’, as she lives the luxurious life of a wealthy aristocrat). However I appreciated that, unlike many in Austen, I don’t know that anyone was merely a comic character to be judged and smugly pilloried (and even if they were – say, Lord Lambeth’s mother – James doesn’t display Austen’s relish in dwelling on them). The characters he does stay with may be flawed, but they are not merely flawed (as with the best of Austen’s): Mrs Westgate may not be aware of her privileged position, but she is no fool either, and her concerns about the casual contempt of classism in England have some basis; as one of Bessie’s idealistic tirades highlights, Lambeth is too self-absorbed to care about the welfare of real people hereditarily placed under his power, but for all that he is still likable, and he demonstrates sincerity and courage (if some condescension) in his affection for her.
Although only appearing several pages in, Bessie Alden turns out to be the real heroine of the piece. And since I’ve started down this route, why don’t I continue with the Austen comparison? Bessie has much in common with Lizzie Bennett as a heroine. She is not faintly intimidated by aristocratic wealth, although this is more to do with growing up in America than Lizzie’s ‘daughter of a gentleman’ confidence. She, too, is utterly forthright in her views (sometimes, likewise, perhaps overzealously given her lack of experience), although not so much for the pleasure of puncturing arrogance as much as clarifying and articulating her opinions. She also likes castles, but is similarly appalled at the idea of marrying for money or status, or that anyone would think that she would do so. The climactic choice she makes (sorry, I don’t think I can avoid a major spoiler for the rest of this review – continue at your own risk), and Lambeth’s assumption of acceptance in making a grand sacrifice very much parallels Lizzie’s initial rejection of Darcy’s proposal.
However Bessie is a heroine who you would think far more attractive to a modern female audience than Lizzie Bennett. She has as much innocence, confidence and intelligence (if not the same level of wit), but to this adds superlative autonomy: ultimately she won’t be dazzled by castles, titles, and fairy-tales. This is partly because she is from a different continent and century – and maybe that’s James’ point (of course he would have been well aware of Pride and Prejudice, and perhaps even doffs his cap with early conversations about balls) – and partly because she already has a benefactor-sister who has made a financially advantageous marriage. But the point remains that Bessie rejects a wealthy, affectionate, titled and likeable suitor who has made none of the social gaffs that Darcy did; indeed, he acts entirely contrary to the duplicitous snob of Mrs Westgate’s cautionary tale. Much as with Bessie, James quietly subverts expectations – where is our happy ending?
At another level, and a surprisingly feminist (although that term has become increasingly unclear) one, this is a happier ending. Bessie is not subsumed and defined by a man. For all the carry on and concern about the seemingly central issue – who Bessie marries – Bessie has left this behind. Lord Lambeth and his mother, Mrs Westlake, Percy et. al. may wring their hands and make grand plans, but their rules and perceptions are no longer that relevant to her. She’s moved on, and marriage isn’t her only agenda. Welcome to the future. Surely this would be more attractive to a modern audience: not a Cinderella, but a strong, independent woman.
So why is this female champion condemned to relative literary obscurity, while Lizzy Bennett’s staggering popularity only goes from strength to strength?
Probably for the same reason I’d recommend reading Pride & Prejudice over An International Episode: it’s more entertaining. It was less gauche of James to not report the final conversation between Bessie and Lord Lambeth, or to detail a war of words between her and her potential mother-in-law, but the equivalent scenes in P & P are classics. Austen really brings home some wonderfully passionate come-uppances, whereas part of James’ theme, perhaps, was that Lambeth and his family didn’t have as much effect on Bessie’s emotions. Poignant social observation, but less immediately entertaining.
Or, perhaps, less entertaining to a modern audience. ‘An International Episode’ is, after all, a short story more than a novel, and the surprise ending would have been more potent at the time. Moreover I get the impression that James was more interested in commenting on his time than on creating drama, so what would have pointedly stung or amused then falls flatter today than Austen’s more staple tears, angry words and romantic reconciliation. Still, then and now James’ heroine and story are perhaps more intellectually interesting, but Austen trounces him for emotion. I’ve probably enjoyed ‘An International Episode’ more in discussing it in this review than in actually reading it, whereas ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is a pleasure to both read and to discuss.
James deals with his characters with a relatively light touch, much as, say, Lou Reed doesn’t spell out exactly what we’re to think of the colourful people in his songs. This isn’t to say he’s not aware of amusing foibles, and fans of Austen would feel very much at home with not only the manners, but also the fun being had at a lack of self-awareness (such as Mrs Westgate’s repeated lamentation/assertion that ‘we have no leisure class’, as she lives the luxurious life of a wealthy aristocrat). However I appreciated that, unlike many in Austen, I don’t know that anyone was merely a comic character to be judged and smugly pilloried (and even if they were – say, Lord Lambeth’s mother – James doesn’t display Austen’s relish in dwelling on them). The characters he does stay with may be flawed, but they are not merely flawed (as with the best of Austen’s): Mrs Westgate may not be aware of her privileged position, but she is no fool either, and her concerns about the casual contempt of classism in England have some basis; as one of Bessie’s idealistic tirades highlights, Lambeth is too self-absorbed to care about the welfare of real people hereditarily placed under his power, but for all that he is still likable, and he demonstrates sincerity and courage (if some condescension) in his affection for her.
Although only appearing several pages in, Bessie Alden turns out to be the real heroine of the piece. And since I’ve started down this route, why don’t I continue with the Austen comparison? Bessie has much in common with Lizzie Bennett as a heroine. She is not faintly intimidated by aristocratic wealth, although this is more to do with growing up in America than Lizzie’s ‘daughter of a gentleman’ confidence. She, too, is utterly forthright in her views (sometimes, likewise, perhaps overzealously given her lack of experience), although not so much for the pleasure of puncturing arrogance as much as clarifying and articulating her opinions. She also likes castles, but is similarly appalled at the idea of marrying for money or status, or that anyone would think that she would do so. The climactic choice she makes (sorry, I don’t think I can avoid a major spoiler for the rest of this review – continue at your own risk), and Lambeth’s assumption of acceptance in making a grand sacrifice very much parallels Lizzie’s initial rejection of Darcy’s proposal.
However Bessie is a heroine who you would think far more attractive to a modern female audience than Lizzie Bennett. She has as much innocence, confidence and intelligence (if not the same level of wit), but to this adds superlative autonomy: ultimately she won’t be dazzled by castles, titles, and fairy-tales. This is partly because she is from a different continent and century – and maybe that’s James’ point (of course he would have been well aware of Pride and Prejudice, and perhaps even doffs his cap with early conversations about balls) – and partly because she already has a benefactor-sister who has made a financially advantageous marriage. But the point remains that Bessie rejects a wealthy, affectionate, titled and likeable suitor who has made none of the social gaffs that Darcy did; indeed, he acts entirely contrary to the duplicitous snob of Mrs Westgate’s cautionary tale. Much as with Bessie, James quietly subverts expectations – where is our happy ending?
At another level, and a surprisingly feminist (although that term has become increasingly unclear) one, this is a happier ending. Bessie is not subsumed and defined by a man. For all the carry on and concern about the seemingly central issue – who Bessie marries – Bessie has left this behind. Lord Lambeth and his mother, Mrs Westlake, Percy et. al. may wring their hands and make grand plans, but their rules and perceptions are no longer that relevant to her. She’s moved on, and marriage isn’t her only agenda. Welcome to the future. Surely this would be more attractive to a modern audience: not a Cinderella, but a strong, independent woman.
So why is this female champion condemned to relative literary obscurity, while Lizzy Bennett’s staggering popularity only goes from strength to strength?
Probably for the same reason I’d recommend reading Pride & Prejudice over An International Episode: it’s more entertaining. It was less gauche of James to not report the final conversation between Bessie and Lord Lambeth, or to detail a war of words between her and her potential mother-in-law, but the equivalent scenes in P & P are classics. Austen really brings home some wonderfully passionate come-uppances, whereas part of James’ theme, perhaps, was that Lambeth and his family didn’t have as much effect on Bessie’s emotions. Poignant social observation, but less immediately entertaining.
Or, perhaps, less entertaining to a modern audience. ‘An International Episode’ is, after all, a short story more than a novel, and the surprise ending would have been more potent at the time. Moreover I get the impression that James was more interested in commenting on his time than on creating drama, so what would have pointedly stung or amused then falls flatter today than Austen’s more staple tears, angry words and romantic reconciliation. Still, then and now James’ heroine and story are perhaps more intellectually interesting, but Austen trounces him for emotion. I’ve probably enjoyed ‘An International Episode’ more in discussing it in this review than in actually reading it, whereas ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is a pleasure to both read and to discuss.
August 15, 2021
- makes me want to read _Bostonians_. We Definitely an interesting exploration of the tensions and misunderstandings between the Americans and Europeans. We can depend on -- never a happy ending with James.
Read
April 21, 2023Si bien no consigo fascinarme con estas novelitas de Henry James que vengo leyendo últimamente, vuelvo a rescatar la capacidad del autor para dar cuenta del carácter específico de cada uno de sus personajes por medio de los diálogos. Es en esos intercambios ásperos en donde hallo mayor interés.
July 9, 2023
one of his earliest works. it lacks his Jamesian magic.
May 22, 2010
This bit of fluff is a combination guidebook and cross-cultural comedy of manners in the manner of James most successful novel, Daisy Miller, or some of the novels of Diane Johnson like Le Mariage or Le Divorce, but not as good. The characters are all informatively stereotypical and you can learn a lot about high society manners of the time. There is a scene near the end between a duchess and two Americans she thinks are trying to marry her son that has a measure of the rich and unstated irony and innuendo that James employed with such effect in his later novels. I listened to the libri vox version, which was adequate.
January 26, 2013
After reading this one gets a pretty good idea on the attitudes of some high society folk... Two English tourists meet two Americans ladies who decide to visit London the next year, of course romantic interests is the reason...
July 22, 2014
I enjoyed reading this story. I will write a detailed review later on.
The story rotates around 5 people;
Mrs. Westgate
Bessie
Lord Lambeth
Pierce Beaumont
Mr. Westgate
The ladies, both live in the United States while the gentlemen live in England. They meet and realise that there
The story rotates around 5 people;
Mrs. Westgate
Bessie
Lord Lambeth
Pierce Beaumont
Mr. Westgate
The ladies, both live in the United States while the gentlemen live in England. They meet and realise that there
May 26, 2015
Loved reading this novella about an eligible young English lord and an intelligent young Anglophile from Boston considered an unsuitable match by his mother, but the nuances didn't seem as exquisite nor the ending as breathtakingly ambiguous as in other works by James.
April 18, 2009
First of 2004.
April 13, 2012
exasperating
Want to read
July 4, 2012James, Henry
The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels
In compilation only.
The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Novels
In compilation only.
January 18, 2015
Someday I'll learn to appreciate Mr. James.
August 2, 2016
A good book about perception, but a bit slow as it is pretty standard For a book in the late 1800s. Henry James has a good use of description.
March 13, 2015
While I am not a huge fan of Henry James (I find him ponderous and pedantic), this novella is much more engaging and enjoyable.
March 27, 2016
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn
November 9, 2014
So subtle, soo good. It ended sorta abruptly, though. Excellent novella.
November 20, 2025
Henry James este unul dintre scriitorii mei preferati datorita stilului sau desavarsit. Fraza "jamesiana", atat de detestata de unii este impecabila si nu am mai intalnit pe nimeni sa invarta lasoul in jurul cuvintelor ca el. Iata si un exemplu chiar in prima pagina a cartii:
De asemenea este si un extraordinar analist al caracterelor umane, al moralei, etichetei, al societatii americane vs. cea europeana. Regasim de altfel aceasta tematica si in "Un episod international", la fel ca in majoritatea operelor sale.
Obisnuiesc adesea sa glumesc cu faptul ca James se foloseste de katana lui Mishima pentru a face disectie pe caracterele umane. Fara indoiala, autorul detine un intreg muzeu de tipologii omenesti.
Opera de fata este o 'nouvelle', James fiind chiar creatorul acestui gen in literatura americana. Asa cum am mentionat se abordeaza tematica cu care ne-am obisnuit in creatii precum: "The American", "The europeans", "The golden bowl" etc. Adica versatii europeni versus blajinii americani.
Nuvela este alcatuita din doua parti:
In prima parte urmarim calatoria a doi englezi in America: lordul Lambeth si varul sau Percy Beaumont. Cei doi vor ajunge in societatea de la Newport fiind oaspetii familei Westgate. Acolo lordul se va indragosti de candida sora a gazdei, Bessie. Insa cand lucrurile vor deveni destul de serioase intre cei doi lordul va fi chemat acasa de catre mama lui, ingrijorata fiind pentru el si rangul sau nobiliar.
In cea de-a doua parte vom face calatoria in sens invers, din America in Anglia, alaturi de Bessie si sora ei si vom vedea daca cei doi indragostiti vor putea sa-si salveze relatia.
Cele doua societati sunt puse in antiteza si analizate la sange de catre autor. Replicile dintre aristocrati si oamenii de rand sunt delicios redate, spirituale, taioase, aprige si vor incanta cititorul.
In concluzie suntem in prezenta unei creatii mai accesibile a autorului, care poate fi agreabila si mai usor de citit, meritand a fi incercata si de cei care l-au ocolit pana acum.
De asemenea este si un extraordinar analist al caracterelor umane, al moralei, etichetei, al societatii americane vs. cea europeana. Regasim de altfel aceasta tematica si in "Un episod international", la fel ca in majoritatea operelor sale.
Obisnuiesc adesea sa glumesc cu faptul ca James se foloseste de katana lui Mishima pentru a face disectie pe caracterele umane. Fara indoiala, autorul detine un intreg muzeu de tipologii omenesti.
Opera de fata este o 'nouvelle', James fiind chiar creatorul acestui gen in literatura americana. Asa cum am mentionat se abordeaza tematica cu care ne-am obisnuit in creatii precum: "The American", "The europeans", "The golden bowl" etc. Adica versatii europeni versus blajinii americani.
Nuvela este alcatuita din doua parti:
In prima parte urmarim calatoria a doi englezi in America: lordul Lambeth si varul sau Percy Beaumont. Cei doi vor ajunge in societatea de la Newport fiind oaspetii familei Westgate. Acolo lordul se va indragosti de candida sora a gazdei, Bessie. Insa cand lucrurile vor deveni destul de serioase intre cei doi lordul va fi chemat acasa de catre mama lui, ingrijorata fiind pentru el si rangul sau nobiliar.
In cea de-a doua parte vom face calatoria in sens invers, din America in Anglia, alaturi de Bessie si sora ei si vom vedea daca cei doi indragostiti vor putea sa-si salveze relatia.
Cele doua societati sunt puse in antiteza si analizate la sange de catre autor. Replicile dintre aristocrati si oamenii de rand sunt delicios redate, spirituale, taioase, aprige si vor incanta cititorul.
In concluzie suntem in prezenta unei creatii mai accesibile a autorului, care poate fi agreabila si mai usor de citit, meritand a fi incercata si de cei care l-au ocolit pana acum.
September 9, 2022
Complementary to 'Daisy Miller', 'An International Episode' shows the experience of people from Europe, this time from the UK, as they visit the US. Two men are introduced into the society there by the wife of a distance acquaintance, in this lighthearted, comedic short story.
Unfortunately I will have to repeat several of my comments from 'Daisy Miller' here as well - it focuses too much on generalities, it feels like the characters are just represented by their place of origin, which is ridiculed and made generic, losing all their personal touch. The humour reads try-hard to me, with expressions such as 'I say' being used liberally to the point where it's very obvious he's mocking a way of speaking rather than creating realistic characters that can stand on their own.
Towards the end there is an attempt to heighten the stakes, bring about more significance and consequence to the characters' actions, but this again reads forced rather than continuous or well-crafted.
It's funny, Henry James' short stories don't work for me at all, including 'The Turn of the Screw', yet his novels have been very successful for me. I know that short stories aren't my cup of tea with other writers too, but here it's incredibly obvious. I find that in novels he constructs more the characters and the settings, two elements I really appreciate being taken slowly and with attention to detail, whereas in short stories he seems to rush to prove a point, and he ends up falling flat and delivering superficiality.
Unfortunately I will have to repeat several of my comments from 'Daisy Miller' here as well - it focuses too much on generalities, it feels like the characters are just represented by their place of origin, which is ridiculed and made generic, losing all their personal touch. The humour reads try-hard to me, with expressions such as 'I say' being used liberally to the point where it's very obvious he's mocking a way of speaking rather than creating realistic characters that can stand on their own.
Towards the end there is an attempt to heighten the stakes, bring about more significance and consequence to the characters' actions, but this again reads forced rather than continuous or well-crafted.
It's funny, Henry James' short stories don't work for me at all, including 'The Turn of the Screw', yet his novels have been very successful for me. I know that short stories aren't my cup of tea with other writers too, but here it's incredibly obvious. I find that in novels he constructs more the characters and the settings, two elements I really appreciate being taken slowly and with attention to detail, whereas in short stories he seems to rush to prove a point, and he ends up falling flat and delivering superficiality.
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