What Maisie Knew, Henry James
What Maisie Knew, Henry James
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
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What Maisie Knew

Author: Henry James

Narrator: Maureen O'Brien

Unabridged: 10 hr 5 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/02/2018

Synopsis

After her parents' bitter divorce, young Maisie Farange finds herself shuttled between her selfish mother and vain father, who value her only as a means for provoking each other. And when both take lovers and remarry, Maisie—solitary, observant, and wise beyond her years—is drawn into an increasingly entangled adult world of intrigue and sexual betrayal, until she is finally compelled to choose her own future.

About Henry James

Henry James (1843–1916), American novelist, short-story writer, and man of letters, was born in Washington Place, New York, to a family of distinguished philosophers and theologians. He attended schools in New York, Boston, and throughout Europe, where he later settled. A major figure in the history of the novel, he is celebrated as a master craftsman who brought his great art and impeccable technique to bear in the development of abiding moral themes.

About Maureen O'Brien

Maureen O’Brien is an English actress and author best known for her role as Vicki in the BBC television series Doctor Who. Since then, she has reprised the role in Big Finish Productions’ Doctor Who audio plays. Also an accomplished author, she has written numerous detective novels, including Close-Up on Death, Mask of Betrayal, and Dead Innocent.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lucy on January 07, 2015

I enjoyed the first half of this book. The language is complex but in a way that I found quite interesting and comprehensible. I like the character of Maisie, obviously she is very sympathetic, though it's hard to understand how she became so intelligent and loving with such selfish adults as role m......more

Goodreads review by Emi on June 15, 2020

That four parents and two houses weren't enough to shelter little Maisie's innocence is heartbreaking. Fascinating look at tabloid-grade divorce and its effect on an 11-yr old child at the turn of the century in 1907 London. So unfair that both parents were equally horrendous but its the mom that ge......more

Goodreads review by Artie on October 29, 2020

I gave up at Chapter 23. I really wanted to get to grips with Henry James, having failed with two of is other works in the past: but his style really does not work for me. In the first chapter, I felt sympathy for Maisie: but this didn't last - she just doesn't feel like a real child. Also, even all......more

Goodreads review by Sally on July 29, 2011

James's prose is very heavy handed but really quite frank and amusing. This was an excellent book. It made me cringe, but he really managed to capture what some parents put children through during and after a divorce. Quite shocking but very real.......more

Goodreads review by Jelina on March 20, 2020

I appreciated the full circle of Maise's story starting with the custody case of her parents and ending with a lively custody debate with her step parents. The step parents stepping in and loving Maise as their own was well done though their romance was rather surprising and ackward. Still the stori......more

Quotes

“Reading Henry James is like putting a new faculty to the test. This is the true morality.” Anita Brookner, New York Times bestselling author

“Henry James is as solitary in the history of the novel as Shakespeare is in the history of poetry.” Graham Greene, New York Times bestselling author

“James’ finest working of his preoccupation with the theme of innocence corrupted…James is the master of making what is not said the most important thing on the page.” Kate Atkinson, New York Times bestselling author

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