Reviews

Being the source material for one my favorite old Hollywood melodramas (William Wyler's The Heiress), I figured this was as good a place to start with Henry James as any. I can't say I'm overly impressed with his prose, though some really interesting phrases come through every once in a while. But it's a solid story with a very sympathetic and relatable (she is autistic in my headcanon) main character. Shame her pops is such a controlling little freak and her man brings absolutely nothing to the table.

mistellation's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emleemay's review against another edition

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4.0

“If you are going to be pushed, you had better jump.”

Almost everyone in this book is awful, but I... think I liked it?

I read Henry James once, years ago, and I picked [b:The Turn of the Screw|12948|The Turn of the Screw|Henry James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567172392l/12948._SY75_.jpg|990886], which turned out to be a bad decision. It put me off for a long time. I also hear that James gets a little more experimental in his later works, delving into that stream-of-consciousness style that has never really floated my boat, which might explain why I heard a lot of complaints about him from English students at university.

[b:Washington Square|133954|Washington Square|Henry James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309286618l/133954._SY75_.jpg|3319458], however, is more of a straight-up drama, that sees familial duty clashing with a potential romance. It's like Austen, but infinitely more depressing. Maybe more like Edith Wharton. Here, James' heroine is the well-meaning, plain and rich Catherine Sloper. She falls deeply in love with a charismatic and broke young man called Morris Townsend, whom her father is convinced wants Catherine for her inheritance. He refuses to give his blessing to their engagement so Catherine must decide whether to remain loyal to her father or follow her heart.

This is considered a classic, but don't believe for a second it's not a total soap opera. Between Dr Sloper going to interrogate Morris's sister, and Catherine's Aunt Lavinia setting up secret meetings to advise Morris how to manipulate the doctor, Catherine is just pulled from one drama to the next. The doctor's self-righteousness, his coldness, and his inability to respect his daughter's feelings, make him an infuriating character. And Aunt Lavinia seriously needs to mind her own business!

It's a short read, but all the characters are very well-drawn and nuanced. Even if they are insufferable. I enjoyed how James explored all their personal motivations but left a lot open to interpretation. I am still not sure what message, if any, he wished to impart with the novel's conclusion, but I do think I am ready to take on [b:The Portrait of a Lady|264|The Portrait of a Lady|Henry James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1502148606l/264._SY75_.jpg|1434368] now.

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xnolde's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

dylan_loves_classics's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a perfect introduction to Henry James; apparently, James had a rather low opinion of this novel later in life, but I found a lot to love.

At its core, Washington Square is a classic plot set-up told extremely well: A young woman wants to marry against her father's wishes, drama ensues. What really set this one apart for me was the acute psychological insight James used to draw his four key characters. All of them felt real (especially Dr. Sloper), but there were still plenty of ambiguities and blank spots to keep me thinking.

James's mellifluous (have to use a Jamesian word) prose is a delight throughout, so I'm very excited to explore his subsequent novels, and how his style evolved.

hungerford's review against another edition

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reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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