Henry James died on 28 February 1916. He wasn’t always a humourless looking middle-aged man. Briefly, a long time ago, he was a humourless looking yet dapper young man.

Young Henry James
QUOTE: “It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.”
SOME WORKS: Roderick Hudson; Washington Square; The Portrait of a Lady; The Bostonians; What Maisie Knew; The Wings of the Dove; The Golden Bowl; Daisy Miller; The Aspern Papers; The Turn of the Screw.
A KEEPSAKE:

Daisy Miller by Henry James at Free Parking. $10.00
This is the best summation of his life to date. All biographies must be burned now and substituted with this.
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Haha, right. May I engrave that on a plaque and hang it above my desk?
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Or you could, you know, graffiti his tombstone?
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Now there’s a thought.
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Dour. The man was positively dour.
Have you by any chance read the stage treatment of Daisy Miller in which he attempts a Wilde flavor?
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That is a huge understatement. Is it no wonder that I prefer his siblings?
I have not read that stage treatment; didn’t even know about it until now, which is most unusual for me. It sounds dreadful. I am intrigued.
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Wasn’t his brother William James, the philosopher? He does look kinda humorless!
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Yes, they were brothers. I much prefer William. Their sister Alice was quite an interesting person, too. (Also: please check your e-mail. I have a quick question about you-know-what.)
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Okay I will check it!
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I went to my bookshelf and sure enough – “Daisy Miller”, a little book in a box sleeve, Venetian-looking marbled papers, published by the Heritage Press in New York about 1969. It is illustrated with little watercolors by Gustave Nebel.
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I am not a big fan of James-I think his siblings were considerably more interesting-but Daisy Miller is one of his few pieces I enjoy, albeit with reservations. It sounds like you own an exquisite copy.
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Love your humor!
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Thank you!
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