The Aspern Papers
by Henry James
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Description
What price will a young writer pay for the secrets of a legendary poet? Our hero and narrator, who is never named, travels to Venice in search of the closely guarded papers of Jeffrey Aspern. In recent times he has tried to publish the papers, only to be turned away by the fiercely possessive Juliana Bordereau, a former mistress of the poet. Now determined to get his hands on these literary treasures by hook or by crook, the narrator arrives in Venice, concealing his identity as he rents a room from the unsuspecting Juliana. He finds Juliana's unattractive and unmarried niece, Tita, living with the elderly woman. When Tita hears of his plan, she agrees to help. However, the narrator grows impatient as the days wear on and he still has not seen the papers. Seizing an opportunity, he searches Juliana's desk one day, only to be discovered by the old woman, who collapses with shock and eventually dies. After this tragic turn of events, the narrator is left with Tita, who makes him a shrewd offer—the papers, in return for marriage. The narrator leaves without accepting, weighing the value of this prized possession against the price of his freedom. What is he willing to do for what he wants? What price is too high? This riveting gem of a novella draws us in and holds us tightly all the way to the end.
Opening Lines (Experimental)
I 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. It is not supposed to be the nature of women to ...
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