Publisher's Synopsis
The Aspern Papers is a novella written by Henry James, first published in 1888. The story is set in Venice, Italy, and follows the narrator, an unnamed American literary scholar, who is determined to obtain the papers of the late poet Jeffrey Aspern. Aspern was a reclusive and mysterious figure, and his papers are believed to contain valuable insights into his life and work.The narrator travels to Venice and discovers that Aspern's papers are in the possession of his former lover, Juliana Bordereau, who is now an elderly recluse. The narrator befriends Juliana's niece, Miss Tina, who lives with her aunt in a dilapidated palazzo. The narrator hopes to use Miss Tina to gain access to the papers, but he soon realizes that Juliana is fiercely protective of them and will not give them up easily.As the narrator becomes more embroiled in the lives of Juliana and Miss Tina, he begins to question his own motives and the ethics of his quest for the papers. He also becomes increasingly aware of the emotional toll his actions are taking on the two women.The Aspern Papers is a complex and nuanced exploration of the themes of obsession, power, and the ethics of literary scholarship. James's masterful prose and vivid descriptions of Venice create a haunting and atmospheric backdrop for the story, which is widely regarded as one of his finest works....had taken Mrs. Prest into my confidence; in truth without her I should have made but little advance, for the fruitful idea in the whole business dropped from her friendly lips. It was she who invented the short cut, who severed the Gordian knot.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.