Book – Daisy Miller & Other stories

Book – Daisy Miller & Other stories

By : Henry James

Score : 8/10 

Year :  1879, 1878, 1884 (stories) ; 1994 (this edition) 

Publisher : Wordworth 

ISBN : 978-1-85326-213-5

Pages : 230 

Language :  English 

 Henry James' prose and choice of words flows naturally and quickly in each of these three short stories ; they all share the topic of international romances, which was very new when he wrote these stories. By international, the topic is meant between American and British cultures, and how, in each of these stories, James explores various forms of romantic interests, and their complications ; He presents to us, readers, impressions and learning curves that each of the characters goes through in discovering different approaches, and attempts to better understand the other person. 

In each story, he also offers unpredictable endings and solutions to problems, if he presents them at all....

I love the overall humour, especially the accidental ones, such as commentary on classes - as the views on these classes changed greatly since publication. 

Table of content : 

VII - General introduction, where the reader's invited to read the stories first, to avoid any spoilers, before coming back to 
VII - Introduction, where background information is given
XXIV - Bibliography, that is, James'. 

3 The author's preface do Daisy Miller. 
7 Daisy Miller
57 An international Episode
131 Author's preface to... 
137 Lady Barbarina

The ends are notes, which are counted sequently from story to story, and explained:
220 Daily Miller
224 International episode
228-230 Lady Barbarina

Some of these notes were useful for context or references, but I read only a handful of these notes. 



In Daisy Miller from 1879, the story focuses on Mr Winterbourne, and his relationships with new friends, and his meeting with Miss Daisy Miller in Vevey, Switzeland. 

I love the overall flow and vivid descriptions of locations as well as his characterisation. This short story is evidently the fruit of its times, a period where appearances of proper conduct in romantic courtship were paramount in society, especially where the author chose to send his characters. 

I equally liked the ways that he avoids using the same word twice in a row, by interposing it with another, introduced in passing. 

In An International episode from 1878, James continuous with the preoccupation of this period, by introducing two Britons travelling to the USA and relationships they entertain there and back in England ; offering comment as to social classes and habits, in, what I come to read, his usual prose and colorful word-choices.

I also love that he names his characters very gradually and changes adjectives to describe each place and person, avoiding repetition in this process, maybe even more so than in Daisy Miller.

As far as I can gather, Lady Barbarina was first published in 1884. I found this story quite different from the other two, inasmuch it shifts points of view a few times in the narrative. I felt like the narrator took the voices and points of view of each of the characters as he introduced them, and shifted from one to the next, and back again, in a stylistic way which was both an exercise and a refreshing storytelling. 

Lady Barbarina & International episode swap their stories, not in content but in who marries whom, so you'll have to find that part for yourselves. 

The book :

I find it odd that the stories weren't in chronological order. 
The print is small and dense, making reading difficult if your vision isn't perfect (and tiring to my bifocal glasses)
There are multiple versions of it, despite the same ISBN. Mine has the cover image used for this entry, with no intended infringement to legal copyrights and would take it down if I find I overstepped my rights as a blogger.