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Review
“Reading Henry James is like putting a new faculty to the test. This is the true morality.”—Anita Brookner
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Henry James's novel "What Maisie Knew" is the story of Beale and Ida Farange and their daughter Maisie. When the two divorce the court orders that the custody of Maisie be split between the two. Spending six months with each, Maisie finds herself in an unstable position as the immoral and frivolous Beale and Ida use Maisie to intensify their animosity for each other. "What Maisie Knew" is a tragic tale of the consequences of a child caught between two unloving parents.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern James' Story,
By
This review is from: What Maisie Knew (Hardcover)
I think this is the most modern of Henry James' stories. Young Maisie's parents divorce and then seem to spend their lives using her to get a teach other, until they develop other interests. Sadly, the story resonates today - immature, self-centered parents and the children that they create. Henry James' insight into the life of such a child is brilliant.
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Underrated James Novel,
By A Customer
This review is from: What Maisie Knew (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Everything in this novel evokes childhood's mysteries. It all seems to take place at knee or waist-level, with the brave Maisie (who "throbs" instead of speaks) attemtping to develop a moral code in the middle of a custody battle between parents who are less mature than she.A tough read, but give it time to weave its spell.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good insights into vicious divorces with children,
By bonewriter@compuserve.com (Kelly, Antioch, TN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: What Maisie Knew (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Never mind the thickets of subordinate clauses. Henry James could look at ugly situations and use them as a means to explore human nature. Written about a century ago when divorce was rare, the novel deals with a little girl whose value to her appalling parents is as a weapon to use against each other. If that wasn't bad enough, nearly everyone who shows the child some kindness has a reason for doing so other than her welfare. What makes this other than pathetic is Maisie herself. She watches the adult's grim game of musical spouses with utter clarity. She may not understand everything she sees, but she is without illusions. She observes, she watches, she copes. Mrs Wix is appalled by Maisie's acceptance of her stepparent's adultery. What Mrs Wix doesn't understand is that Maisie has no conception of conventional morality. How could she? It certainly makes for an interesting protagonist. Maisie may be a strange little girl, but it is because she has lived a strange little life. Shs is more a miniature woman than a little girl because the twisted adults around her have stolen her childhood. In this, James was prophetic of what we have done to our children since he penned this novel at the dawn of the twentieth century.
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