Customer Reviews

The New York Stories of Henry James (New York Review Books Classics)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There is nothing wrong with the fiction contained in this volume of stories and novels by Henry James. However, its publishing history makes it a dubious online purchase.

I was working in a bookstore when this title was first released and an early printing of this title did in fact, accidentally, leave off the last chapter of "Jolly Corner". That mistake has since been rectified by the NYRB. Most likely, if you order this book from Amazon, you'll get "The Jolly Corner" in its entirety. But you can't be sure. Amazon surely will replace your defective copy --hopefully, not with a second defective copy-- because it's not the buyer's fault a book is printed wrong. Still, why risk it?

It's a decent collection, and it appears the NYRB has started to collect other writers' New York stories, which is nice.

Great selection of James stories (though I would call "Washington Square" a novel). It's nice to see unusual selections.

And no... they did not leave out the third chapter of "A Jolly Corner" as a misinformed "simple man" stated. It's all there. Verify it for yourself... The book is widely available in stores.

I am a simple man. And when I read a story, I would like to have the entire story before me, and not be forced to go to the internet to find the rest of it!!!!!!!
This volume, incredibly, omits the third and final chapter of "A Jolly Corner"! It was an intersting experience, accidentally, because reading it without the last chapter made one confront the basic construct of the tale. It seemed incomplete after chapter two, but complete after chapter three. What was the missing element? The female character of absorption and empathy. So, I am glad that the compilation is a complete disaster, as it forced me to confront what this particular short story is really about: female human-ness vs male ego driven self-delusion.

"Washington Square" is the only truly great work in the collection. I loved it.
I rate it a one because surely a person can read these stories on the internet in their complete form.