The Other House

Henry James

Arno Press, Jan 1, 1976 - Fiction - 388 pages

The Other House is one of the most startling and disconcerting of James's novels. Written at the same time as such terse masterpieces as The Spoils of Poynton and What Maisie Knew, it is like them a story of a struggle for possession and of its devastating consequences. Three women seek in very different ways to secure the affections of one man, while he, in turn, tries to humor and please them all. In the middle of this contest of wills stands his unwitting and very vulnerable young daughter. The savage conclusion of The Other House makes it one of the most disturbing and memorable of Henry James's depiction of the evil that lies under the polished veneer of civilized life.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - proustitute - LibraryThing

4.5/5 stars A tricky book to rate, and more thoughts coming soon—likely lengthy thoughts. Despite how this novel is considered a "minor" James, I think it's a pivotal one, one that shows his shift ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - stillatim - LibraryThing

Worst James I've read? Certainly. I recognize that there are reasons for that: this was meant to be a play, and he's much better at understated moral turmoil than understated murderous rage. And if ...

About the author

Henry James, American novelist and literary critic, was born in 1843 in New York City. Psychologist-philosopher William James was his brother. By the age of 18, he had lived in France, England, Switzerland, Germany, and New England. In 1876, he moved to London, having decided to live abroad permanently. James was a prolific writer; his writings include 22 novels, 113 tales, 15 plays, approximately 10 books of criticism, and 7 travel books. His best-known works include Daisy Miller, The Turn of the Screw, The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors, and The American Scene. His works of fiction are elegant and articulate looks at Victorian society; while primarily set in genteel society, James subtlely explores class issues, sexual repression, and psychological distress. Henry James died in 1916 in London. The James Memorial Stone in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey, commemorates him.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Other House; Literature of mystery and detection
• Author: Henry James
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Arno Press, 1976
• ISBN: 0405078803, 9780405078804
• Length: 388 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Literary; Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General