Two entertaining novellas offer distinct literary experiences.

In some ways, I found The Aspern Papers to be more accomplished and satisfying, even though The Turn of the Screw is much more famous.

The Turn of the Screw is James' most renowned ghost story and perhaps the first instance of the horror trope of a possessed child. Narrated from the perspective of a governess who travels to an isolated house to care for two children, it creates a tense and dramatic atmosphere. However, it leaves many questions unanswered. We're unsure how much to trust the governess's account. Is she a witness to horrifying events, seeing things that aren't there, or a combination of both? James keeps us in suspense, and the suspense never truly lifts as few answers are given. I enjoyed this, but it felt a bit too Freudian. So much seems to represent repressed sexuality that the ghosts sometimes get lost.

The Aspern Papers, on the other hand, is set in a beautiful yet decaying palazzo in Venice, belonging to two unmarried women, a niece and an aunt. The unnamed narrator gains access to the house under false pretences. He claims to be seeking a simple lodging but is actually trying to obtain some papers from the older aunt. These papers belong to Jeffery Aspern, a beloved American poet who had an affair with the aunt decades ago. The novella portrays the unlikeable and avaricious narrator, who is willing to manipulate those around him and play with their emotions. This makes for an interesting character study and a tense, readable story. Although less imaginative than The Turn of the Screw, I found it more satisfying.

These are two spine-chilling stories penned by Henry James.

The Aspern Papers - In this tale, the protagonist manages to deceive his way into the home of a former lover of his beloved writer. Convinced that the woman possesses unpublished works of the writer, he cunningly pretends to be in love with the woman's niece. When the aunt passes away, the niece ensures that the papers are not destroyed. However, she stipulates that he can only view them if he becomes a relative by marrying her. Disgusted, he walks out. After a night of contemplation, he returns to the house only to discover that the niece has burned the papers. This serves as a prime example of karma at work.

The Turn of the Screw - A governess begins her employment at a property with two young children. Yet, the house seems to be haunted by the spirits of two former servants who were lovers. These ghosts desire the children, and the children refrain from admitting that they can also see them. Or perhaps it is all just a figment of the governess' overactive imagination?

Between the two stories, I couldn't quite decide which one was my favorite.

I re-read this recently and what a glorious creepy tale it is!

Those children, little Miles and Flora, are truly fascinating. Many writers have attempted to imitate James's remarkable skill at leading the reader gradually to the point where they come to realize that the children are implicated in something extremely horrible.

It is essentially a short story, but it is an absolute great read. The atmosphere that James creates is palpable, sending shivers down the spine of the reader.

The way he builds up the tension and the mystery surrounding the children is masterful. One can't help but be drawn into the story and become completely engrossed in the unfolding events.

It is a tale that lingers in the mind long after it has been read, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and a desire to explore more of James's works.

In "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James, the Bachelor becomes responsible for his niece and nephew upon the death of their parents. He hires a woman, the Governess, to care for them. The story is presented as if it occurred to the Governess, and she tells it from her perspective.

When the Governess arrives to look after Flora and Miles, she immediately begins seeing ghosts. She learns from the maid that the ghosts are Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, former employees of the estate.

We question whether the Governess has truly seen the ghosts or if her inner battle of conscience, perhaps due to her attraction to a much younger boy, is distorting her perception of reality. She may believe she is justified in pursuing her desires unconsciously.

Flora and Miles refuse to admit seeing the ghosts, but the Governess fears for their safety. After more sightings, she writes a letter to the Bachelor, which is stolen before it can be mailed. Flora falls ill, and Mrs. Grose takes her away, leaving the Governess alone with Miles. He then confesses to stealing the letter.

As the story progresses, it becomes evident that the Governess is highly influenced by her imagination and emotions, and the ghosts may be scapegoats for what has transpired.

The Governess sees the ghost of Peter Quint outside the window, and when Miles looks and sees the ghost, he dies of fright.

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There is something about the classics that just wouldn't go away. And I must add, not that I want it to. Every now and then, I feel an intense need for the convoluted language, the artfully turned phrases, and the intricately constructed sentences that make my head spin and my mind feel as if it has just endured mental torture. And yet, it is a sweet torture, one that I find comfort in from time to time.

The only other book by Henry James that I've read was "The Portrait of a Lady." While I wasn't exactly swept away by it, I refused to give up on the author, at least not until I had the chance to read more of his works. After all, it took me three books to come to like Paulo Coelho's writing. "The Zahir" was just not for me - it was too 'fantastical' and liberal. However, I really liked the adventure in "The Alchemist," while "Brida" fell somewhere in the middle.

That is why, when I saw the two short novellas between the same covers, I knew it was time to give Henry James another chance.

"The Turn of the Screw" tells the story of a 20-year-old governess who finds a job caring for two orphans at an old house in the English countryside. Her employer, a young bachelor, is willing to pay handsomely for her services, and he only asks that under no circumstances is he to be involved in the whole matter from that point on.

The two little children, his niece and nephew, prove to be perfect little darlings, the dream of every governess: beautiful, attentive, smart, and obedient. One can only wonder how nature created such perfection. Their names are Flora and Miles, and they live under the care of the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose.

For a while, everything seems perfect. But then, the return of little Giles, who was dismissed from boarding school, triggers the first sign of doubt as to the boy's behavior. Then, the new governess starts seeing people whom she shouldn't be able to see because they were dead. In time, she becomes convinced that those people want to harm the children. It becomes her life's mission to protect them, but as she is trying to do so, there is a notable change in the children's behavior.

The end is strange, to say the least. One can only draw their own conclusion, as the events leading to that point are just as strange. Things are far from being clear, and I was left with many unanswered questions. It's one of those books where you are led in step by step with the promise of a good denouement, only to be left at the end to fill in the blanks with your own version. Normally, I wouldn't have any problem with that (I do like to have the option of choosing my own ending), but in this case, the whole story was too foggy to make a lot of sense.

What I liked:

- The young bachelor - I kind of hoped the author would give more clues as to how he came to be the guardian of the two children. And what happened to his brother anyway?

- The whole atmosphere, very dark and creepy.

- The governess - she seemed like such a nice, dedicated person.

What I didn't like:

- Too much confusion. Why were the “ghosts” haunting the house, and more specifically, what was their connection with the children? I feel like I'm missing something, but I don't know what. Maybe I should read it again. Maybe I should take notes.

"The Turn of the Screw" reminded me of another book, "The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill. The narrator reads (or remembers, in the case of the latter book here mentioned) a story involving some sort of ghost. Both have a woman dressed in black as one of the characters, and both involve children. "The Turn of the Screw" is much more devious in its ambiguity. The conversations are so cleverly constructed as to be both terribly intriguing and absolutely ambiguous, a trick I appreciated and admired, even though I didn't like it very much.

Did I enjoy the story? I did. I just wish there was more to it.

***

The Aspern Papers

What would you do to get the thing you want the most? For the protagonist of this story, the answer is 'quite a lot'.

The story is set in Venice, the city of water canals, gondolas, and old palaces. The narrator, an admirer of the famous American poet Jeffrey Aspern, makes it his goal to locate and read the famous correspondence of the late poet. He embarks on a mission to get acquainted with Juliana Bordereau, an old lover of the poet, in the hope of getting access to the letters and other important papers he suspects she keeps under lock and key. The old woman lives with a niece, Tina, a rather gullible and harmless spinster.

Under the pretext of looking for some rented rooms where he can write undisturbed, the man succeeds in persuading the two ladies that he will make an excellent tenant. Not even Juliana's exorbitant rent deters him from his purpose. His greatest fear is that the old woman will burn the letters before she dies, and so he decides to confide in Miss Tina, who promises to help.

This is a rather neat story. The man who worms his way into the house under false pretenses finds himself trapped by the unexpected turn of events caused by the death of Juliana. He is given a choice, one that could get him what he wants but which comes with a dear price. While he resists at first, in the end, his determination to get those famous papers wins. But it is too late - the deceiver is deceived, and he is forced to give up his plans.

I liked this story. Reading it felt like a game in which I got to watch as each player made his move. Juliana, who in the end realizes what the man wants and is determined to make him pay (in more ways than one) for his foolishness. And the protagonist, whose obsession and admiration for the great poet makes him go to great lengths to get those valuable papers. Miss Tina seemed like such a harmless creature, but in the end, it is she who turns things around. I have to admit I underestimated her role in the story and was punished for it.

Now I can safely say I like Henry James a little bit better. Even though both stories were gloomy, they managed to keep me guessing until the last moment (nothing predictable here, fortunately). The author's capacity to reveal the cunning side of his characters is admirable. Appearances are deceiving, and the one who falls into that trap has to pay for his mistake.

The Aspern Papers

This work is pretty much boring, yet there are some points that are funny, in a way that only James can manage to be. The criticism within his work is often more captivating than the work itself. It makes one wonder if perhaps the same was true for Jeffrey Aspern's papers.

Maybe there are hidden gems of criticism and thought within those papers that are more engaging than the papers as a whole. It's an interesting concept to consider.

While the story may not be the most exciting, it does have its moments that make you stop and think.

And who knows, perhaps upon further examination, the true value of The Aspern Papers will be revealed, not just in the narrative but in the underlying criticism and ideas that it contains.

It's a work that may require a second look to fully appreciate its depth and complexity.

On 25/03/2020, I gave this a 1-star rating.

To be fair, it wasn't a terrible piece. In fact, it was quite easy to read. However, it was also incredibly tedious.

As I was going through it, I felt like it was aging me about 20 years into the future. It was just one of those things that you have to get through, but it doesn't leave you with a great feeling.

Maybe it was the subject matter, or maybe it was the way it was written. Either way, it wasn't something that I would recommend to others.

I'm sure there are better things out there to read that will engage you and make you feel like you've learned something. This one just didn't do it for me.

Oh well, at least I can move on to something else now.

Please note, four stars does not mean I approve of dialogue like this:*

"So she went to -"

"To?"

She hung fire. "To the gentleman's residence."

"The gentleman's residence?"

"Yes, you know, in case of -"

"Oh, yes, well..."

She hung fire. "He wasn't exactly a gentleman."

"Wasn't a gentleman?"

"No, and it caused problems later -"

"Later? If only it had been sooner."

"Sooner?"

They hung fire.

"Everything depended on when she went -"

"When she went? Why? Because of -"

"Yes." He hung fire. "Or -"

"Or?"

"Well - you could say that it prevented -"

"Oh, of course. It prevented." She hung fire.

He hung fire.

They hung. Fire. "And then of course the child -"

He gasped. "The child? What of it?"

"It was thought that -"

"Who thought it?"

"It. It thought it."

"What? It? Why, oh -" one of them gasped, no one was sure which one.

* Not actual Henry James dialogue, except for the "hung fire" bits.

The dialogue presented here seems rather disjointed and cryptic. Each exchange leaves the reader with more questions than answers. The repeated use of "hung fire" adds a sense of hesitation and uncertainty to the conversation. It makes one wonder what exactly is going on and what the significance of all these remarks is. The mention of the gentleman's residence and the child introduces new elements that further complicate the situation. Overall, the lack of clear context and explanation makes it difficult for the reader to fully understand the meaning and purpose of this dialogue. It may require further exploration and clarification to truly make sense of it all.

Heartbreaking!

It is truly a heartbreaking sight to witness. The pain and suffering that some people have to endure is almost unbearable.

Whether it is due to loss, disappointment, or injustice, the feeling of heartbreak can be overwhelming.

We see it in the eyes of those who have lost a loved one, in the tears of those who have been betrayed, and in the expressions of those who have faced hardships.

Heartbreak has the power to shatter our souls and leave us feeling empty and alone.

But even in the midst of heartbreak, there is always hope. We can find strength within ourselves to pick up the pieces and move forward.

We can reach out to others for support and comfort, and together, we can heal our broken hearts.

So, let us not give in to heartbreak. Let us instead choose to be坚强 and勇敢, and face whatever comes our way with dignity and grace.

I've had at least as much fun reading commentary about the novella The Turn of the Screw as I did the work itself.

This is classic Goth horror - with ghosts and governesses, creaky mansions and eerily ethereal tots.

Is our heroine, who falls in love at the drop of a kerchief, the victim of a household haunting conspiracy or is she merely batty?

What was the sinister exploit that got Miles expelled from boarding school?

What connivances is Flora calculating behind her angelic blues?

To whose insanity is Mrs. Grose an unwitting contributor?

The language is a bit of a slog, stealing away some of the story's tension.

But I love that James leads us ever on into the gloom and fog, then drops us abruptly, leaving unanswered a mystery that will spawn countless doctoral dissertations and VC Andrews' pulp fiction.

The novella is filled with such intriguing questions that keep the reader engaged and guessing.

The Gothic elements add an extra layer of spookiness and mystery to the story.

The characters are complex and their motives are often unclear, making it difficult to determine who is telling the truth.

The setting of the creaky mansion and the surrounding foggy landscape further enhance the atmosphere of the story.

Despite the language being a bit of a challenge at times, the overall experience of reading The Turn of the Screw is a thrilling one.

It is a classic work of literature that continues to captivate readers with its mystery and intrigue.

Both works were very good. I was also impressed by James' writing style. In this book, the plots of two different genres are intertwined and at some point, I suddenly realized that both works have the same author - which is quite remarkable considering they are two radically different genres and also very different in terms of plot. However, both are bound by the author's writing until the final approach.

Although the book is relatively short in volume, just like each individual work, it doesn't seem that way when reading - Henry James' works are written in a convoluted style and indeed, the complexity of the descriptions makes the reader think. However, the plot is so engaging that it doesn't give the reader the opportunity to put it down until the very last page. It feels like a whole century has passed before you finally finish the book.

Another characteristic of James' works is that he wants the reader not only to know the plot but also to become a part of the works' essence. The reader has to figure it out and decide for himself which is the correct line of the plot.

In short, I will definitely return to Henry James' other literature as soon as possible.

I came for The Turn of the Screw, and stayed for The Aspern Papers.

The first one, The Turn of the Screw, is indeed the more renowned and has had an enormously influential impact. However, I found myself enjoying The Aspern Papers more.

This was in part because the prose of The Aspern Papers is less dense and thus easier to read. It doesn't require as much effort to wade through the complex language.

Another reason is that, unlike with The Turn of the Screw where I was already familiar with the plot, with The Aspern Papers, I had no prior knowledge. This element of surprise and the ability to discover the story as it unfolds made the reading experience all the more engaging.

So, to allow you, dear readers, to have the same enjoyable experience, I will refrain from saying any more on the matter. I encourage you to pick up The Aspern Papers and embark on this literary journey for yourself.