The Spoils of PoyntonMrs Gereth is convinced that Fleda Vetch would make the perfect daughter-in-law. Only the dreamy, highly-strung young woman can genuinely appreciate, and perhaps eventually share, Mrs Gereth's passion for her 'things' - the antique treasures she has amassed at Poynton Park in the south of England. Owen Gereth, however, has inconveniently become engaged to the uncultured Mona Brigstock. As a dramatic family quarrel unfolds, the hesitating Fleda is drawn in, yet she remains reluctant to captivate Owen, who seems as attracted to her as she is to him. Is she motivated by scruple or fear? In The Spoils of Poynton (1897), Henry James created a work of exquisite ambiguity in his depiction of three women fighting for the allegiance of one weak-willed man. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
A Note on the Text | 19 |
THE SPOILS OF POYNTON | 21 |
Henry Jamess Preface to the New York Edition | 23 |
Extracts from Henry Jamess Notebooks concerning The Spoils of Poynton | 212 |
Notes | 235 |
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Common terms and phrases
answer appeared awfully beauty Bernard Richards better CHAPTER companion course dear door dreadful everything exclaimed eyes F. O. Matthiessen face feel Fleda asked Fleda felt Fleda knew Fleda Vetch Fleda wondered gave girl give Greek mythology Guy Domville hand hate Henry James honour hour House Beautiful idea instant James James's keep laugh least London looked Maggie Maggie's Maltese cross Marie Antoinette marriage marry matter mean Miss Vetch Mona Brigstock Mona's mother never Owen Gereth Owen's passion person poor present Princess Casamassima question replied Ricks round scene secret seemed sense silence simply smile sort Spoils of Poynton spoke St James's theatre stared story strange struck sure surrender taken talk taste tell there's things thought told took turned wait Waterbath West Kensington woman words York edition young friend young lady