What Maisie Knew
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Book Description
'A very modern story about aimless lives and messy marriages' Paul Theroux
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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After her parents' bitter divorce, young Maisie Farange finds herself shuttled between her selfish mother and vain father, who value her only as a means for provoking each other. And when both take lovers and remarry, Maisie - solitary, observant and wise beyond her years - is drawn into an increasingly entangled adult world of intrigue and sexual betrayal, until she is finally compelled to choose her own future. Published in 1897 when Henry James was becoming increasingly experimental with narrative technique and fascinated by the idea of the child's-eye view, What Maisie Knew is a subtle, intricate yet devastating portrayal of an innocent adrift in a corrupt society.
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First Sentence
The litigation had seemed interminable and had in fact been complicated; but by the decision on the appeal the judgement of the divorce-court was confirmed as to the assignment of the child. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The litigation had seemed interminable and had in fact been complicated; but by the decision on the appeal the judgement of the divorce-court was confirmed as to the assignment of the child. Read the first page
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is another classic from the James collection. What Maisie Knew is a masterpiece- the reader has an ant's eye view of the adult world through Maisie's eyes. Essentially we witness the violent pumelling of a young child by her parent's manipulative scheming; she is used throughout as a go-between and epitomises,sadly, the position many children find themselves in when a divorce is handled terribly by parents. Maisie becomes intertwined in an adult world of bitterness, violence, sordid affairs and irresponsibility yet luckily, the tale is saved from the depths of sordid tragedy by the lovely Mrs. Wix who takes Maisie under her wing, so to speak, and shows real affection. James very much enforces the notion of parental responsibility in this incredibly poignant tale of a little girl.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At a dinner party in 1892, Henry James heard about an unusual divorce settlement in which the child was not, as was usual given to one parent to bring up, but was to alternate between them. Interested in the potentialities of this situation, the seed thus planted grew via a short story, into a novel published in 1897.
The narrative voice telling the story is filtered largely through the child Maisie's perceptions of events and allows her to be the innocent observer, to see all the moral inadequacies, failings and deviousness of adult life without any clear understanding of what it all really means. The reader, however, older, wiser and no doubt more cynical than Maisie, can see the reasons for her perpetual changes of residence between parents, step-parents, nurse and governesses and all the games they play with her life and happiness, for what it really is. This is novel is about the lust and the selfishness that James perceived to be at the centre of London life at the turn of the century.
It is a humorous, warm story, despite the subject matter and it is written with a wit and lightness of touch that allows the reader to observe these deviousand morally frail grown-ups who exert power over Maisie as not without charm. They themselves are buffeted by forces beyond their control. Money, or the lack of it, is central to the experience of all the main characters, all of whom feel entitled to be rich or acquire riches through their own sexual attractions.
The delightful Sir Claude who has real affection for Maisie, the narrowly moral Mrs Wix and Maisie herself, are all great comic creations. The style, as always with James is demanding, slow paced and needs to be read slowly. The pay-off however, is a novel of great richness and satisfaction for the reader. It anticipates later novels such as Atonement and Lolita, both of which, of course, are sexual explicit. Nonetheless, James' novel's acknowledgement that sexual trading is the basis of his society's currency is still shocking, even for readers today, who might have expected otherwise from innocent and more distant days. Plus ca change...
The narrative voice telling the story is filtered largely through the child Maisie's perceptions of events and allows her to be the innocent observer, to see all the moral inadequacies, failings and deviousness of adult life without any clear understanding of what it all really means. The reader, however, older, wiser and no doubt more cynical than Maisie, can see the reasons for her perpetual changes of residence between parents, step-parents, nurse and governesses and all the games they play with her life and happiness, for what it really is. This is novel is about the lust and the selfishness that James perceived to be at the centre of London life at the turn of the century.
It is a humorous, warm story, despite the subject matter and it is written with a wit and lightness of touch that allows the reader to observe these deviousand morally frail grown-ups who exert power over Maisie as not without charm. They themselves are buffeted by forces beyond their control. Money, or the lack of it, is central to the experience of all the main characters, all of whom feel entitled to be rich or acquire riches through their own sexual attractions.
The delightful Sir Claude who has real affection for Maisie, the narrowly moral Mrs Wix and Maisie herself, are all great comic creations. The style, as always with James is demanding, slow paced and needs to be read slowly. The pay-off however, is a novel of great richness and satisfaction for the reader. It anticipates later novels such as Atonement and Lolita, both of which, of course, are sexual explicit. Nonetheless, James' novel's acknowledgement that sexual trading is the basis of his society's currency is still shocking, even for readers today, who might have expected otherwise from innocent and more distant days. Plus ca change...
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This edition is pleasantly cheap, so if you are not a James fan, and are tentative about approaching his work, you have not spent much. And the introduction is at the right level for this kind of reader, though I suggest that you look at this after you have finished reading - whether you actually finish the book or not.
The introduction is useful, and may help you continue if you have stalled. But it is certainly best to start reading the book first, particularly as James himself produced a later preface, which can also safely be left until you have finished.
The notes are helpful, and not too many. But James' long sentences and massive paragraphs may overpower from time to time, especially as this budget edition leaves little white space around the solid text.
This is a short James novel, and is useful as an introduction to his work. Plenty of observation of the disfunction of the adults around her by the growing Maisie, who in turn is observed by the narrator. The work commands your attention at the start - before Chapter one - and then takes you through what happens to Maisie as she is shunted between her divorced parents over her formative years. You need to pay attention to some names, as adults marry again, governesses change and years go by. Your sympathy is with Maisie, who lives with it all. But what did Maisie know? Or understand?
What Maisie Knew #Wordsworth Classics#
The introduction is useful, and may help you continue if you have stalled. But it is certainly best to start reading the book first, particularly as James himself produced a later preface, which can also safely be left until you have finished.
The notes are helpful, and not too many. But James' long sentences and massive paragraphs may overpower from time to time, especially as this budget edition leaves little white space around the solid text.
This is a short James novel, and is useful as an introduction to his work. Plenty of observation of the disfunction of the adults around her by the growing Maisie, who in turn is observed by the narrator. The work commands your attention at the start - before Chapter one - and then takes you through what happens to Maisie as she is shunted between her divorced parents over her formative years. You need to pay attention to some names, as adults marry again, governesses change and years go by. Your sympathy is with Maisie, who lives with it all. But what did Maisie know? Or understand?
What Maisie Knew #Wordsworth Classics#
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