The Princess Casamassima
The Princess Casamassima by Henry James, published by National Geographic Books on June 2, 1987, is a reissue edition comprising 608 pages in English. This novel follows the journey of Hyacinth Robinson, a character shaped by his impoverished upbringing and heightened aesthetic sensibilities. As he navigates the streets of London, he becomes entangled in revolutionary politics and grapples with a vow to assassinate a significant political figure. His encounter with the beautiful Princess Casamassima leads him to question his radical beliefs, creating a tension between his ideals and the allure of wealth and beauty.
Readers will find a rich exploration of Hyacinth’s internal conflict as he confronts the complexities of honor and ambition. The narrative delves into themes of class struggle and the impact of societal expectations, reflecting James’s engagement with social issues of his time. This edition invites readers to experience a blend of personal and political dilemmas, making it a notable entry in the realm of literary fiction and classics.
Official synopsis Publisher
Henry James conceived the character of Hyacinth Robinson—his ‘little presumptuous adventurer with his combination of intrinsic fineness and fortuitous adversity’—while walking the streets of London. Brought up in poverty, Hyacinth has nevertheless developed aesthetic tastes that heighten his awareness of the sordid misery around him. He is drawn into the secret world of revolutionary politics and, in a moment of fervour, makes a vow that he will assassinate a major political figure. Soon after this he meets the beautiful Princess Casamassima. Captivated by her world of wealth and nobility, art and beauty, Hyacinth loses faith in radicalism, ‘the beastly cause’. But tormented by his belief in honour, he must face an agonizing, and ultimately tragic, dilemma. The Princess Casamassima is one of James’s most personal novels and yet one of the most socially engaged.
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