The Golden Bowl

The Golden Bowl by Henry James is an iconic novel about love, marriage, and the fragility of relationships. Set in the upper-class of Edwardian England, the novel follows the lives of Maggie Verver and her father, Adam Verver, who is a wealthy American businessman, and their respective spouses and love interests. Maggie meets and falls in love with an impoverished Italian prince, while her father is simultaneously courted by a former lover. The four of them become entangled in a complex web of secrets and lies, and the connections between them are tested by the power of money, love, and pride. Through a series of intricate and suspenseful plot twists, Henry James examines the moral and psychological implications of marriage in a captivating and masterful way. The Golden Bowl is a complex and intense study of marriage and adultery, focusing deeply on the consciousness of the central characters -- to some critics, with a level of obsessive detail leading almost to claustrophobia, but also with powerful insight. The Golden Bowlis considered to be Henry James's final "major" novel, and it does not disappoint, regularly being ranked among the greatest and most significant English language novels of all time. Readers will be enthralled by the intricate character study and the beautiful prose that make The Golden Bowl a timeless classic. The title is taken from Ecclesiastes 12: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity." Henry James (1843 – 1916) was an American-born British writer whose works of fiction and literary criticism are widely considered to be some of the greatest of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is widely regarded as one of the foremost authors of the Realist movement, and continues to inspire literary scholars and new readers alike. James's legacy as one of the most important writers of the 19th and early 20th centuries is securely enshrined in the canon of English literature. He wrote novels and stories that were both psychologically complex and conceptually challenging, most famously The Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove, and The Ambassadors. He also wrote among the most influential essays and criticism of the day, crafting works that explored the properties of modern literature and influenced generations of writers and thinkers. From his criticism evolved the ideas of writerly intention and the role of the artist in society – ideas that remain powerful and relevant today. James's work has been praised for his unlimited capacity to explore complex relationships between people, as well as his efforts to draw connections between art and life. He is remembered for his deepening exploration of consciousness, his blend of realism and fantasy, and his evocative use of language. His works and ideas remain hugely influential in literary circles, offering a guide and a timeless source of inspiration to many generations of readers.
ASIN: B087617MGP
VSKU: DBV.B087617MGP.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:James, Henry
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: This copy has clearly been enjoyed—expect noticeable shelf wear and some minor creases to the cover. Binding is strong, and all pages are legible. May contain previous library markings or stamps.