“She had the American national quality—she had ‘faculty’ in a supreme degree.” The “she” is the titular character in Henry James’ short story “Mrs. Temperly” (included in the Library of America’s Complete Stories 1884-1891). Like every work by James, the story is calculated to describe with exquisite precision how life works. Our protagonist, Raymond, is in love with Mrs. Temperly’s daughter, Dora, and wants to marry her. Without ever saying to either Raymond or Dora that the marriage should … [Read more...] about The American National Quality?
Library of America
The Oddity of Trust
Trust is a strange thing. I started Melville’s The Confidence-Man expecting a novel. I discovered something else. What? I am not sure what it was. There is a story here, if you define story loosely, very loosely. On a Mississippi riverboat, there are a lot of conversations. The whole book is conversations. There is presumably—it is never stated explicitly—one person—presumably the titular character—again, it is never stated—who … [Read more...] about The Oddity of Trust
Watching the World Go By
"An occasion for serious study and reflection."In the late 19th century, Stephen Crane (shortly before he published The Red Badge of Courage) spent a few years writing accounts of New York City, collected by the ever-invaluable Library of America. In “Coney Island’s Failing Days,” we read this: As we walked toward the station the stranger stopped often to observe types which interested him. He did it with an unconscious calm insolence as if the people were bugs. Once a bug … [Read more...] about Watching the World Go By