Spoils of Poynton (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2008 | Series: Oxford World's Classics

Mrs. Gareth, widowed chatelaine of Poynton, is fighting to keep her house with its priceless objets d'art from her son Owen and his lovely, utterly philistine fianc�e. When she discovers that her young friend and sympathizer Fleda Vetch is secretly in love with Owen, she thrusts her into the battle-line.

The power struggle that ensues between the three women leaves Owen vacillating. What is at stake is not the mere possession of tables and chairs; it is, for Fleda, a conflict between aesthetic ideals, ethical imperatives, and her innermost feelings, in which she risks betraying, and being betrayed by, all that she holds most dear.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Henry James (1843-1916), son of Henry James Sr. and brother of the philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James, was an American-born author and literary critic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He spent much of his life in Europe and became a British subject shortly before his death. He is primarily known for novels, novellas and short stories based on themes of consciousness and morality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; Reissue edition (November 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199552487
• ISBN-13: 978-0199552481
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #551,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Henry James (1843-1916), the son of the religious philosopher Henry James Sr. and brother of the psychologist and philosopher William James, published many important novels including Daisy Miller, The Wings of the Dove, The Golden Bowl, and The Ambassadors.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chandler liked it; so do I, September 25, 2010

By 

James M. Rawley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spoils of Poynton (Oxford World's Classics) (Kindle Edition)

This was one of Raymond Chandler's favorite Henry James books. He said he doubted anyone would ever do a better social evocation. That's why, he said, he wrote mystery stories: it was obvious someone could write a better mystery story than had yet been written.

I suspect the cruel older woman and the sensitive younger one in Chandler's THE HIGH WINDOW are based on characters from THE SPOILS OF POYNTON.

SPOILS is a straight love story, by the way, as short and intense as a Harlequin novel. One of James's great advantages over Harlequin novelists, though, is that you never know if a love story of his is going to end happily. Sometimes it does; sometimes it ends tragically; sometimes the lovers break up in an easygoing way; sometimes they marry for life. Because you can't be sure in advance how things are going to go, the suspense is much greater. Of course, lots of romance readers don't like any real suspense, but if you DO like it, you'll certainly get it here.

Henry James makes it perfectly clear in his preface, too, that his heroine is smarter than her lover and everyone else she has to deal with. He doesn't take any particular feminist stance: just creates a strong, brilliant woman and gets on with the story.

After POYNTON you get excerpts from Henry James's notebooks made while he was putting the whole story together. It's like a one-man Hollywood story conference, and the way he juggles the plot around is delicious. Only in the late nineteenth century could a short story writer be so commercial and so high-minded all at the same time. Twenty percent of the population was illiterate, but those who had enough time and education to consume fiction wanted a very high class of good entertainment.

The Penguin Kindle edition of SPOILS has the preface and his working papers, with good modern notes and a good introduction. For some reason this novel isn't available in all the Kindle collecteds. Completists and fans couldn't get a better ebook than this.

5.0 out of 5 stars Deligthful examination of love for property., September 18, 2011

By 

Caedmon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spoils of Poynton (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

This book is a hoot! My advice is to relax and enjoy high comedy from the master. There's no need to analyze this or get all gloppy and sentimental. This book is a delightful romp around the matter of inheritance and value of place and property over people. Like watching a stage being slowly set for the action, this tale unfolds slowly, and slowly we see the work of manipulation and star dust being cast in the eyes of the narrator by some of the other characters. With such delicious works by Henry James, why read anyone else?

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 100+ pages for this?, February 10, 2011

By 

Bookworm 4 Life (florida/maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spoils of Poynton (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

It's ok. I think it could have been done in 15 pages. An overwhelming use of descriptors of the people and their thoughts yet nothing about the "spoils" except the feelings they evoke. But then that's the point, right? That the spoils (these things) aren't individually valuable. So it's safe to say I was a bit disappointed, and I'd take "The Beast in the Jungle" again than read this over.