The Tragic Muse
London: Thomas Nelson and Sons. Hardcover. 18mo. Very Good / Very Good. Item #012399
N.d., [ca. 19--?]. Orig. green paper boards. 566 pp., 10 pp. publisher's ads. Spine shaken, light chafing to extremities. Foxing to edges of text block. Ink ownership inscription to ffep. Dust jacket is age toned, chipped to spine ends and corners. All the characteristics which gave Henry James his unique position in English letters stand out in this volume--his subtle artistry, his penetrating insight into character, his highly-wrought narrative, his meticulous care for the right word and phrase. His theme might be described as "the world well lost for art's sake." His hero, Nick Dormer, sacrifices a fortune, a seat in the House of Commons, and an alliance with a particularly well-dowered young widow, to gratify his taste for portrait painting. One of his sitters is Miriam Rooth, a fashionable actress, whose rise to fame is closely followed, and who is delineated with rare knowledge and skill. The hero's association with her leads to no emotional crisis, though it promises to do so, and in the end he is left like Mahomet's coffin suspended between heaven and earth. Brilliant conversations on art, morals, and life generally abound, and there is a wealth of keen observation, shrewd wit, and fine phrasing in every chapter. 0.
Price (CAD): $150.00