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Georgina's Reasons
Henry James (1843-1916), was an American-born author and literary critic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is primarily known for novels, novellas and short stories based on themes of consciousness and morality. He significantly contributed to the criticism of fiction, particularly in his insistence that writers be allowed the greatest freedom possible in presenting their view of the world. His imaginative use of point of view, interior monologue and possibly unreliable narrators in his own novels and tales brought a new depth and interest to narrative fiction. He is one of the major figures of trans-Atlantic literature. His works include The American (1877), Daisy Miller (1878), Confidence (1879), A Bundle of Letters (1879), The Author of Beltraffio (1884), The Bostonians (1886), The Aspern Papers (1888), The Awkward Age (1899), and The Ambassadors (1903).
76 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1884
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About the author
Henry James
4,543 books3,937 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 30, 2022
Ese final, que lo ves venir, y dices: ¡no!.
July 12, 2021
Esta historia corta de Henry James de facil lectura deja bien claro lo que puede pasar si eres buena persona y te fias de alguien como Georgina Gressie.
No está mal, pero me ha dejado algo fría.
📖♥
No está mal, pero me ha dejado algo fría.
📖♥
March 29, 2025
More of James' shorter fiction; (the only lengths I can actually read) – another study of character, treachery and morality among social complications of the Gilded Age's upper class.
We have Raymond, a young Navy officer without a dime more than his monthly pay in love with willful Georgina, “tall and fair with a beautiful, cold eye,” the darling daughter of Boston brahmins – who frown upon him.
“It's hopeless, darling” says Georgina. “You know you can't support me and you may be called away to sea duty at any time. And then where would I be?” But Raymond persists until one day Georgina astounds him. Out of nowhere, “Yes, I'll marry you. Let's do it right away. But we keep it secret.”
“But why?”
“You know you can't support me, so I can live at home as before and we can slip away when we can.”
All right. He solemnly swears secrecy. He promises only she will ever decide when to announce their marriage. They wed and no one knows. And he's an honorable man.
A month later Raymond is called to sea duty. A few weeks afterward Georgina approaches Mrs Portico, an old family friend.
“You know how you've always wanted to do a Grand Tour with me as your companion? Well, I'd like to go. I want to go now.”
Mrs Portico is not so naive as Georgina thinks about this sudden change. “Is there anything you should be discussing with your mother?" she asks.
“Not at all,” Georgina lies. “I just want to go.” Her parents think travel is a splendid idea; just the thing to help her forget that dreadful little naval officer.
They leave for Italy while Raymond rises in the ranks somewhere in the Pacific and loses track of her, while poor Mrs. Portico is lured into a web of lies.... worse than you imagine. From Italy she writes urgently to Raymond somewhere at sea. Georgina has packed and disappeared. But how can Portico inform her lifelong friends, Georgina's family in Boston, that she has abetted her lies and that their little grandson is being cared for by an illiterate Italian nanny in a mountain village?
----- and here's the moment to leave my review.
A bit of fine literature well worth reading.
We have Raymond, a young Navy officer without a dime more than his monthly pay in love with willful Georgina, “tall and fair with a beautiful, cold eye,” the darling daughter of Boston brahmins – who frown upon him.
“It's hopeless, darling” says Georgina. “You know you can't support me and you may be called away to sea duty at any time. And then where would I be?” But Raymond persists until one day Georgina astounds him. Out of nowhere, “Yes, I'll marry you. Let's do it right away. But we keep it secret.”
“But why?”
“You know you can't support me, so I can live at home as before and we can slip away when we can.”
All right. He solemnly swears secrecy. He promises only she will ever decide when to announce their marriage. They wed and no one knows. And he's an honorable man.
A month later Raymond is called to sea duty. A few weeks afterward Georgina approaches Mrs Portico, an old family friend.
“You know how you've always wanted to do a Grand Tour with me as your companion? Well, I'd like to go. I want to go now.”
Mrs Portico is not so naive as Georgina thinks about this sudden change. “Is there anything you should be discussing with your mother?" she asks.
“Not at all,” Georgina lies. “I just want to go.” Her parents think travel is a splendid idea; just the thing to help her forget that dreadful little naval officer.
They leave for Italy while Raymond rises in the ranks somewhere in the Pacific and loses track of her, while poor Mrs. Portico is lured into a web of lies.... worse than you imagine. From Italy she writes urgently to Raymond somewhere at sea. Georgina has packed and disappeared. But how can Portico inform her lifelong friends, Georgina's family in Boston, that she has abetted her lies and that their little grandson is being cared for by an illiterate Italian nanny in a mountain village?
----- and here's the moment to leave my review.
A bit of fine literature well worth reading.
December 12, 2021
An examination of conflicting moral stances. The more conventional social values versus rejection of same. There is less pleasure in reading this book than usual, but I like the way both sides stick to their way of seeing things. I am all for greater freedom in personal relationships. Which means I am on Georgina's side, unpopular as that might be.
I am starting to see some regrettable tendencies in James's style, needlessly clumsy and overlong sentences, creeping in and seemingly getting worse as I proceed through the years of publication of his works. In GR we are told that neither of the protagonists understand each other. I read this as saying that James is experiencing difficulty in understanding himself. This can only result in greater obscurity and confusion. Perhaps James is chafing at the unacceptability of his own inner values.
I am starting to see some regrettable tendencies in James's style, needlessly clumsy and overlong sentences, creeping in and seemingly getting worse as I proceed through the years of publication of his works. In GR we are told that neither of the protagonists understand each other. I read this as saying that James is experiencing difficulty in understanding himself. This can only result in greater obscurity and confusion. Perhaps James is chafing at the unacceptability of his own inner values.
January 7, 2016
It is possible my version of this book (an e-book version) may be lack of the third act of the story, it seemed to have ended at the untimely death of Mrs Porto who served as the miserable companion and protectress of Georgina. The young woman of the title came across quite morally perverse, forcing a situation with no articulate reasons but taking hostages through the love from Benyon, kindness of Mrs. Porto and of her parents, into something quite sinister.
** Appending
It turned out I was fooled by the abrupt and lengthy introduction of The Theory sisters, one dying of Consumption, another in marriageable state, both residing in the balmy climate of Naples. Rather archly, the story of Benyon, now captain of a ship stationed in Naples Italy, began by paying social calls to the sisters.
The story ends with uncertainty, Benyon carrying his cross knowingly, unable to shake off the extracted promise of Georgina, forever delaying his own happiness with Kate Theory. What was the reason for Georgina's perversion? A diseased moral character with a high spirited indifference to others.
This remains the least favorite of my reading in Henry James work.
** Appending
It turned out I was fooled by the abrupt and lengthy introduction of The Theory sisters, one dying of Consumption, another in marriageable state, both residing in the balmy climate of Naples. Rather archly, the story of Benyon, now captain of a ship stationed in Naples Italy, began by paying social calls to the sisters.
The story ends with uncertainty, Benyon carrying his cross knowingly, unable to shake off the extracted promise of Georgina, forever delaying his own happiness with Kate Theory. What was the reason for Georgina's perversion? A diseased moral character with a high spirited indifference to others.
This remains the least favorite of my reading in Henry James work.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews