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Portrait Of A Novel: Henry James And The Making Of An American Masterpiece (2012)

by Michael Gorra(Favorite Author)

4.31 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0871404087 (ISBN13: 9780871404084)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Liveright

review 1: Walked by what is called a 'Bazaar' on campus where everything is free. There were knock-off perfumes, bizarre little animal figurines, many-a VHS/2-for-1 DVD set, packaged bandannas, binders, candles, tons of kid clothing and books including an abridged collection of O. Henry stuff I guiltily snag in the accidental case I ever have a child, a really cute freshman covered with advanced acne whom seemed to smile at everything I said all two or three sentences commenting on the remarkable quality of the wreaths and silverware and Christmas decorations, doing my old routine of scanning everything once more before leaving, noticing a little stack of books I'd missed earlier. Found this one in mint condition, Heart is a Lonely Hunter in mint condition (I think I've been meaning... more to read this book for at least ten years what the fuck is wrong with me), a beautiful book of the history of the book of Genesis for my dad, a book called Food Rules which I should probably read because in the winter I drink too much well actually I just carry on with my regular habits yet now there is no exercise whatsoever and the beard trick is working more to disadvantage with age than anything and anyway maybe I'll read this one day or just wrap it up and give it away, considering it is brand new hardcover etc, that's all I have to say for now.
review 2: Part brilliant literary criticism of Portrait of a Lady, part ingenious and insightful literary biography of Henry James, part historiography of the material production of books in the nineteenth century and how they evolved into the books we know today, and part literary pilgrimage throughout the Old and New Worlds, this illuminating book is one of my favorite reads not just of this year but of all time. The conception and execution is perfect and this study of the process of creating a book (and revising it later in life to suit the author's "final vision") has changed the way I look at the process of writing. The world needs more books like this, and fewer of the dry, 700 page start-to-finish literary biographies that are remnants of the nineteenth century bildungsroman modeled conception of life studies. This book felt like the constantly shifting perception of a portrait, much like James's book is a multivalent observation of the sides of a complicated human being in Isabel Archer. And, as the book so pervasively demonstrates, Isabel is Henry James himself. Bravo, Mr. Gorra. less

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