Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Wings of the Dove by Henry James (76 down, 24 to go)

When Milly smiled it was a public event – when she didn’t it was a chapter of history.


This is the second novel I’ve read by Henry James and the first time I’ve read The Wings of the Dove. It is a third-person narrative, realist novel, set in London, England and Venice Italy, turn of the 19th century. Milly Theale, an American heiress, is a central person, but the main characters are truly Merton Densher and Kate Croy – two English lovers who are secretly and hopelessly engaged – hopeless due to lack of fortune and family demands.

I didn’t like this novel, for the same reasons I didn’t like my other experience with Henry James, [The Ambassadors]: pretentious dialogue, insipid characters, and failure to captivate with the magnificent setting: Venice in this case, Paris in The Ambassadors. I’ve been to both cities, and had hoped to be swept back there, but no. The greatest disappointment though was a poor telling of an intriguing premise.

My rating: 2 1/2 of 5 stars
 


This novel satisfies item #9: A classic that includes the name of an animal in the title, of the Back to the Classics Challenge 2017.

As I say, I thought the premise was promising. First, there is Kate Croy, from a family of some distinction, ruined by the indiscretion or ineptitude of her father. She is taken in by her Aunt Maude Lowder if she will but have nothing to do with her father.

Well, that is not the only condition. Aunt Maud as benefactress is now entitled to meddle and she does not approve of Kate’s love, Merton Densher, a newspaperman of no distinction and little means.

Enter Milly Theale, a charming American heiress who is smitten with Mr. Densher. In spite of this, and because Kate must keep her love for Merton secret, Milly and Kate become fast friends. Milly confides, vaguely, of a serious illness. Kate is convinced Milly is going to die – and

And – terrible wheels start turning in Kate’s desperate head. She intends to encourage Milly’s affection for Merton, and encourage Merton to encourage it – in hopes that – well Merton put it quite simply when he finally caught on…
Since she’s to die I’m to marry her?

Merton reluctantly agrees, but only after obtaining a pledge from Kate that she give herself to him. She does, so Merton acquiesces.

Merton’s a sap by the way. He actually has four women helping him make love to Milly: Kate as I’ve explained, Aunt Maud because she thinks it takes him out of Kate’s prospect, Milly’s companion Mrs. Stringham who thinks love may save Milly, and of course Milly herself.  Merton describes his situation:
He was glad there was no male witness; it was a circle of petticoats; he shouldn’t have liked a man to see him.

Then, there was this awful, poignant moment for Kate:
…her eyes…half-filled with tears from some source he had too roughly touched. “I’m taking a trouble for you I never dreamed I should take for any human creature.”

And the awful plan begins to unfold. No spoiler, but you know an awful plan must have some awful consequence.

I didn’t dislike this novel, because of the awful plan or consequence. Indeed, I thought it was an intriguing dilemma. I enjoy reading about moral ambiguity, moral dilemma, and what decent, desperate people can be driven to, and the consequence. I just think this was a promising story, badly told.

I hate to say it, after all, who am I to critique Henry James, thrice nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature.

But I’m sticking to it. My main complaint, just like in The Ambassadors, James loves to use his characters to tell us how fascinating the other characters are – but the narrative does not make them fascinating at all.

For example, Mrs. Stringham describes a fairly minor character: 
He’s not like any one you’ve ever seen. He’s a great beneficent being.

I read this as James pleading with readers – “trust me, he’s really fascinating!”

At other times, James’ narrative is pretentious and nearly indecipherable. The opening to one chapter:
A prime reason, we must add, why sundry impressions were not to be fully present to the girl till later on was that they yielded at this stage, with an effect of sharp supersession, to a detached quarter of an hour – her only – with Lord Mark.

Couldn’t just say – Milly did not immediately understand the situation because she was distracted by her one brief conversation with Lord Mark.

The ending saved this a little. It wasn’t what I expected and it wasn’t happily ever after, but I thought it fitting.

If not for my quest, I’d probably be finished with Henry James. I’m still holding out hope though. I’ve read that he has three distinct styles, from three different writing periods, and so far, I've only ready his later works. 

Other excerpts:

We’re doing our best for her. We’re making her want to live. ~ Kate Croy to Merton Densher

Naturally I can but try. Only, you see, one has to try a little hard to propose to a dying girl. ~ Merton Densher to Kate Croy


In the narrative, Henry James makes several references to other authors: Guy de Maupassant, William Thackeray, Charles Dickens, or specific characters from other novels: Nicholas Nickleby, Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Micawber. I like it when authors do that.


Film rendition: 1972 BBC TV miniseries - pretty faithful, well cast, well acted, but not very exciting. I didn't love the book, but I'd still say, skip the movie, read the book.

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17 comments:

  1. This review made me smile - I am not a fan of Henry James at all and you've described why much better than I could! The story itself does sound intriguing but I can't deal with his poor writing so I will probably not read this one. Maybe I'll just watch the film version and call it a day! :)

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    1. Thanks...I hate being this critical, and feel a little like I am not qualified to be...it is reassuring when others validate the opinion though. I'm sure there are some folks who love Henry James, and that's great. But me...not so much.

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  2. Your critique of The Wings of the Dove would fit Daisy Miller, too. I remember liking (at least a little bit) The Turn of the Screw, but I don't remember much about it.

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    1. Good to know. That's from his middle period. I think I may like The Portrait of a Lady best...one of his earliest novels...but it of course remains to be seen.

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  3. Ugh! I am not looking forward to reading James but I will, if only to say that I have. Is that bad reasoning? In any case, I enjoyed your review!

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    1. I think it's good reasoning. He deserves a chance - and then you will make your own judgment without conceding to someone else's. Thanks for the feedback.

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  4. My first taste of Henry James was The Portrait of a Lady. I quite liked it, but perhaps it's because I can relate with the heroine. My 2nd trial was The GFolden Bowl--didn't even finish it. But I still want to give another chance, maybe Turn of the Screw. If it failed too, well... then I'll say goodbye to him forever.

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    1. I certainly haven't encountered many classics readers that care much for Henry James. I still have a pretty healthy dose of him left to get through...at least three more I think. But I'm with you...I may be finished with him then.

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  5. He he he, I love how you paraphrased that cryptic and long sentence:

    A prime reason, we must add,...

    You'd have liked my novel choice of Planet of the Apes 10x more, no doubt

    I'm ashamed to say I have not read any Henry James at.all. And I will, just because I think it merits a try. I have his Ambassadors, and Washington Square. I'll let you know about how it goes for me. (I too like when authors refer to other authors or characters).

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    1. I still have not read any of his books, and I am now not expecting to love him as much as I thought I would. What makes him so famous, so liked? (Although I have not seen him being much read among my reading friends. You are the only one of late who has read him)

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  6. Again, I forgot to subscribe to comments.

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  7. I haven't read any of his books yet but I just read this about him in Wikipedia: 'Good novels, to James, show life in action and are, most importantly, interesting.'
    Mmm...

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    1. If you ever want to give him a try...I'd not recommend this for starters. The Portrait of a Lady is the best I've read by Henry James, so I'd start there.

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  8. I haven't read any of his books yet but I just read this about him in Wikipedia: 'Good novels, to James, show life in action and are, most importantly, interesting.'
    Mmm...

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  9. I haven't read any of his books yet but I just read this about him in Wikipedia: 'Good novels, to James, show life in action and are, most importantly, interesting.'
    Mmm...

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    1. Hi Carol. Sorry for the delay in responding. Somehow, I was not receiving notification of comments awaiting approval, and I didn’t see this until now.

      Yeah, I'm a bit mystified at what's so great about HJ. I can only recommend his earlier books, such as The Portrait of a Lady

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