Classics

Washington Square

Washington Square

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  • Create Date：2021-08-27 09:53:25
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Henry James
  • ISBN：0141441364
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Summary

Henry James's classic tale of romance in urban nineteenth-century America， Washington Square is edited with an introduction and notes by Martha Banta in Penguin Classics。

When timid and plain Catherine Sloper is courted by the dashing and determined Morris Townsend， her father， convinced that the young man is nothing more than a fortune-hunter， delivers an ultimatum: break off her engagement， or be stripped of her inheritance。 Torn between her desire to win her father's love and approval and her passion for the only man who has ever declared his love for her， Catherine faces an agonising dilemma， and becomes all too aware of the restrictions that others seek to place on her freedom。 James's masterly novel deftly interweaves the public and private faces of nineteenth-century New York society; it is also a deeply moving study of innocence destroyed。

This edition of Washington Square includes a chronology， suggested further reading， notes and an introduction discussing the novel's lasting influence and James's depiction of the quiet strength of his heroine。

Henry James （1843-1916） son of a prominent theologian， and brother to the philosopher William James， was one of the most celebrated novelists of the fin-de-siècle。 His novella 'Daisy Miller' （1878） established him as a literary figure on both sides of the Atlantic， and his other novels in Penguin Classics include Washington Square （1880）， The Portrait of a Lady （1881）， The Awkward Age （1899）， The Wings of the Dove （1902）， The Ambassadors （1903） and The Golden Bowl （1904）。

If you enjoyed Washington Square， you might like Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth， also available in Penguin Classics。

'Washington Square is a perfectly balanced novel。。。 a work of surpassing refinement and interest'
Elizabeth Hardwick

'Perhaps the only novel in which a man has successfully invaded the feminine field and produced a work comparable to Jane Austen's'
Graham Greene

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Reviews

Joyce Haworth ，

I made a stab at this book， but I found the heroine so dull and damp that I gave up。 I don't give a rip what happens to her。 I made a stab at this book， but I found the heroine so dull and damp that I gave up。 I don't give a rip what happens to her。 。。。more

Holly ，

What， a book about a rich New York woman who falls in love with man both attractive albeit poor man who may or may not be after her for her money？ You're kidding！ Catherine is a couple degrees more interesting than your typical vapid， Victorian woman。 Morris is not more interesting than your typical dandy daddy disapproves of with a good degree of eloquence， pretty eyes， and an empty purse because he squandered his inheritance on riotous living。 Although the book was kind of tiresome， I kinda li What， a book about a rich New York woman who falls in love with man both attractive albeit poor man who may or may not be after her for her money？ You're kidding！ Catherine is a couple degrees more interesting than your typical vapid， Victorian woman。 Morris is not more interesting than your typical dandy daddy disapproves of with a good degree of eloquence， pretty eyes， and an empty purse because he squandered his inheritance on riotous living。 Although the book was kind of tiresome， I kinda liked it。 。。。more

T。P。 Williams ，

This is a well-written， well-conceived short novel。 Depiction of characters was terrific - there's always been an Austin Sloper， either in 1840 or today - arrogant， opinionated， rigid， but also one who's suspicions about other people are not unfounded。 Treatment of Catherine - his daughter - not shabby （he takes her to Europe for the Grand Tour） but is heartless and cynical at the same time。 Townsend is something of a mystery， at least with regard to his motivations in courting Catherine。 Not su This is a well-written， well-conceived short novel。 Depiction of characters was terrific - there's always been an Austin Sloper， either in 1840 or today - arrogant， opinionated， rigid， but also one who's suspicions about other people are not unfounded。 Treatment of Catherine - his daughter - not shabby （he takes her to Europe for the Grand Tour） but is heartless and cynical at the same time。 Townsend is something of a mystery， at least with regard to his motivations in courting Catherine。 Not sure what his character was really like， not even at the end。 Mrs。 Penniman， the meddling， interfering aunt is a memorable character。 I thought much of the novel to be intentionally humorous， with， of course， a bittersweet denouement。 Interesting to me was how the author used dialogue between characters frequently， which I always took to be a more modern technique of the novel， and used as a shortcut by an author， a type of laziness （or inability） in moving the narrative along - kind of like a narrator's voiceover in a movie。 Dialogue was necessary in telling the story in this book。 It also showed the sign of a good novel - I had no idea how the story was going to end - it seemed like it could logically have gone many different way - until the author tipped his hand - in a subtle manner - shortly before the end。 There is a type of coda， if you will， that closes the book in a very satisfactory manner。 Recommended。 。。。more

Phil K ，

Henry James published "Washington Square" in 1880。 So already it feels old。 But it is set 30 years before， so it's describing the times of 1850。 Like some other older classics I've read， there isn't too much fantastical or exciting happening in this work。 The scenes takes place in parlors and drawing rooms of the upper class （mostly） and the plot of this short story involves a wealthy doctor and his daughter of marrying-age。 So what happens when a man takes interest in courting the daughter （per Henry James published "Washington Square" in 1880。 So already it feels old。 But it is set 30 years before， so it's describing the times of 1850。 Like some other older classics I've read， there isn't too much fantastical or exciting happening in this work。 The scenes takes place in parlors and drawing rooms of the upper class （mostly） and the plot of this short story involves a wealthy doctor and his daughter of marrying-age。 So what happens when a man takes interest in courting the daughter （perhaps for nefarious reasons）？ How does the father react？ How does the meddling aunt react？ How does the daughter react？ How does the suitor react？ I won't spoil too much， so you won't find out what happens here。 But， my review is that the story is incredibly boring， and so dated that it is barely readable。 In our modern times， there is much more equality between the sexes and how they choose their partners。 I found it sad how little respect the daughter receives （even from her own father）。 Sad。 Slow。 Boring。 Couldn't really find a moral in it because things are so different today。 My review is that there's not much to be found here， so I suggest moving along to something of more interest or import。 。。。more

Amy Petras ，

Meh。 I did not like the end。 The male characters do not redeem themselves。

Judith Gunn ，

This is not as substantial a story as Henry James books usually are。 A father slams the door on his daughter's romance， although she tries to prevent this， and she eventually loses interest in the man。 He comes back near the end of the book， still interested， although it may well be that its her money he wants， not her。 I think I'll go pick up some of his standard books， none of which I have read for a few years。 This is not as substantial a story as Henry James books usually are。 A father slams the door on his daughter's romance， although she tries to prevent this， and she eventually loses interest in the man。 He comes back near the end of the book， still interested， although it may well be that its her money he wants， not her。 I think I'll go pick up some of his standard books， none of which I have read for a few years。 。。。more

Nelie ，

I listened to this as an audible audiobook，one that came free。 I’m so glad I did and now want to read more Henry James。 The story is so much from another class and time at first I thought of it as just interesting because of that but by the end I was in awe of how James gets at the way two upper class women who live in a time when their main value is seen as being connected to a husband end up finding small psychological ways to have their own power over their lives apart from that。 It’s remarka I listened to this as an audible audiobook，one that came free。 I’m so glad I did and now want to read more Henry James。 The story is so much from another class and time at first I thought of it as just interesting because of that but by the end I was in awe of how James gets at the way two upper class women who live in a time when their main value is seen as being connected to a husband end up finding small psychological ways to have their own power over their lives apart from that。 It’s remarkable a male writer of that era was able to describe the nuances of the psychological struggles that no doubt went on for women in his time。 。。。more

Sara Morelli ，

I'm not one to shit on classics， but this was rather unnecessary and it felt like an afterthought rather than an actual published work。 Needless to say my first foray into Henry James was unsuccessful。 Will I attempt another go？ Stay tuned。 I'm not one to shit on classics， but this was rather unnecessary and it felt like an afterthought rather than an actual published work。 Needless to say my first foray into Henry James was unsuccessful。 Will I attempt another go？ Stay tuned。 。。。more

Dawn ，

This book really deserves four and a half stars。 What a pleasure it was to read。 The only other Henry James book I have ever read is the much more well known Turn Of the Screw。 I rarely get bored， but I have to say it was one of the dullest books I ever read。 Not so with this gem！ The story is relatively simple。 It centers on a young heiress， her rather proud and cold father， and her fortune hunting suitor。 This book came out in the early 1880s and the action takes place in New York City in the This book really deserves four and a half stars。 What a pleasure it was to read。 The only other Henry James book I have ever read is the much more well known Turn Of the Screw。 I rarely get bored， but I have to say it was one of the dullest books I ever read。 Not so with this gem！ The story is relatively simple。 It centers on a young heiress， her rather proud and cold father， and her fortune hunting suitor。 This book came out in the early 1880s and the action takes place in New York City in the mid to late 19th century。 I personally always enjoy a book that takes place in a time and location that I could never possibly experience myself。 Mr。 James paints an impressively vivid portrait of Washington Square and environs。 While the plot is relatively spare， the characters prove to be much more complicated。 The book is most certainly not morally simple。 I found my attention， sympathy， and admiration switching back and forth from time to time between Catherine and her father。 Sexism is dealt with briefly in the mentioning of the fact that Catherine will lose many of her current rights （and her last name-boo！ ） once she marries。 I don't want to say much more， because I don't want to give anything away。 Suffice it to say， I found this book charming， interesting， well written， and heartbreaking。 Also， for those of you out there that can't stand long books-you are in luck！ My crumbling paperback edition clocks in at 180 pages。 You won't find many books this short that are this fascinating。 Of course， as soon as I wrote that I thought of Siddhartha， The Little Prince， and The Pearl-one of John Steinbeck's more overlooked novellas。 I found this book just as enjoyable as any of the previously mentioned treasures。 It is worth every page。 Happy reading！ 。。。more

fadedbookpages ，

3。5

Aria Izik-Dzurko ，

Not your average love story… I truly appreciate the unlikely female heroine。 Quiet， reserved， and timid， Catherine is nonetheless a strong woman with firm moral values。 Unshakeable in her reasoning and kind to all， Catherine is seen by others as being slow and unremarkable。 This book delves deep into love and marriage， familial loyalty vs passion， greed vs goodness。

Francesca ，

Non avevo mai letto nulla di Henry James， ma ne sono stata piacevolmente colpita。Si tratta di una novella molto semplice e， per la verità， priva di colpi di scena。 Tuttavia è stata scorrevole， tanto che ho letto il libro in pochissimo tempo。 La protagonista， Catherine， è una fanciulla dell'800， ricca di famiglia， ma con un padre rigoroso e austero。 La vicenda narra delle difficoltà che la ragazza affronta nella sua stagione degli amori， dovendosi destreggiare tra una zia ficcanaso e un padre rig Non avevo mai letto nulla di Henry James， ma ne sono stata piacevolmente colpita。Si tratta di una novella molto semplice e， per la verità， priva di colpi di scena。 Tuttavia è stata scorrevole， tanto che ho letto il libro in pochissimo tempo。 La protagonista， Catherine， è una fanciulla dell'800， ricca di famiglia， ma con un padre rigoroso e austero。 La vicenda narra delle difficoltà che la ragazza affronta nella sua stagione degli amori， dovendosi destreggiare tra una zia ficcanaso e un padre rigido e totalmente razionale。 La particolarità di questo libro però non risiede nel racconto: è come leggere una storia di Jane Austen， ma che abbia frequentato almeno due anni di Filosofia。 Ogni aspetto è infatti sminuzzato dal narratore in ogni piccolo dettaglio， e si entra perfettamente negli ingranaggi del pensiero di Catherine e compagnia。 A questo devo la velocità di lettura。 Di contro， la storia è molto basic e quasi esaustiva。 Consiglio vivamente per una lettura tranquilla。 。。。more

William ，

Very-well written - the structure and swiftness， the conception of the scenes， and James' insights into the characters are all exceptional - but I couldn't help but feel it was like Austen but not as nourishing。 I can't put my finger on what makes her work so rich and wise while this seemed merely clever。 But James sometimes transcends that， especially in the trajectory of the heroin， which is quite touching。 Very-well written - the structure and swiftness， the conception of the scenes， and James' insights into the characters are all exceptional - but I couldn't help but feel it was like Austen but not as nourishing。 I can't put my finger on what makes her work so rich and wise while this seemed merely clever。 But James sometimes transcends that， especially in the trajectory of the heroin， which is quite touching。 。。。more

Sara （Alicorn Feathers） ，

I loved Henry James’ writing， very much， and his characterization was rather enjoyable too。 The story itself wasn’t really my favorite， but I can’t argue against the fact that — for what it was — it was well done。 If nothing else， this is one of the least painful books I’ve ever had to read for school。

Claudia Bucio ，

La historia logró atraparme， sentí que estaba leyendo una novela mexicana。 El libro es muy corto y la forma en la que Henry James narra es sencilla， me refiero a que no tiene un lenguaje muy complejo， lo que evita que la lectura se vuelva tediosa。 Odié a Morris y sufrí mucho con la incapacidad de Catherine de darse cuenta del papel que tenía en la historia。 De la señora Penniman no sé qué pensar porque era ingenua y por ello solo incitaba conductas que hacían crecer el dolor de la heroína， así q La historia logró atraparme， sentí que estaba leyendo una novela mexicana。 El libro es muy corto y la forma en la que Henry James narra es sencilla， me refiero a que no tiene un lenguaje muy complejo， lo que evita que la lectura se vuelva tediosa。 Odié a Morris y sufrí mucho con la incapacidad de Catherine de darse cuenta del papel que tenía en la historia。 De la señora Penniman no sé qué pensar porque era ingenua y por ello solo incitaba conductas que hacían crecer el dolor de la heroína， así que no sé si querer o detestar a este personaje。 El doctor。。。 es controversial porque por un lado protegía a su hija de mercenarios pero por otro no la traba tan bien， así que no sé si realmente la quería o no。El desenlace de Catherine no me gustó， creo que ella merecía algo mucho， mucho mejor y tuvo la oportunidad de que su vida fuera distinta pero no pasó y eso me entristece， sufro internamente。 Por otro lado， el desenlace de la relación de los pesonajes principales sí me gustó y lo aplaudí。 En conclusión diría que el final de la historia me dejó un sabor agridulce。 。。。more

Glamy ，

Dios mío creo que nunca me había desesperado tanto un personaje como la tía Lavinia。 Jodió hasta la última página。

Magdalena ，

The pace of the book keeps the reader's interest because there isn't really a significant lull。 The pace of the book keeps the reader's interest because there isn't really a significant lull。 。。。more

Federico ，

Piacevolissima scoperta， romanzo dalla lucida e delicata prosa， con l’Amore protagonista dell’opera。 Unica pecca……troppo breve

Margaretta ，

A great start and one defiantly worth reading。

Aritri Bhattacharyya ，

Completely in love with Henry James's writing style！！ This premise was so simple yet so gripping just because of the narrator's sarcasm， wit and depth of writing！ Completely in love with Henry James's writing style！！ This premise was so simple yet so gripping just because of the narrator's sarcasm， wit and depth of writing！ 。。。more

Axl Oswaldo ，

“No， no estoy enfadada。 El rencor no dura tanto tiempo， aunque las impresiones sí cuando han sido fuertes。。。”Estoy gratamente sorprendido con esta novela， honestamente pensé que me gustaría pero no al nivel que me ha gustado， y es que es de esas historias en las que capítulo tras capítulo sucede algún acontecimiento que no pasa para nada desapercibido。 En pocas palabra， la lectura me ha parecido fascinante。 La historia va de una joven llamada Catherine， que cierto día —en una fiesta en casa “No， no estoy enfadada。 El rencor no dura tanto tiempo， aunque las impresiones sí cuando han sido fuertes。。。”Estoy gratamente sorprendido con esta novela， honestamente pensé que me gustaría pero no al nivel que me ha gustado， y es que es de esas historias en las que capítulo tras capítulo sucede algún acontecimiento que no pasa para nada desapercibido。 En pocas palabra， la lectura me ha parecido fascinante。 La historia va de una joven llamada Catherine， que cierto día —en una fiesta en casa de su tía Almond— conoce a un muchacho muy atractivo llamado Morris Townsend， quien inmediatamente muestra interés en ella。 Catherine， por el contrario， es descrita como una chica no tan atractiva físicamente pero con una inteligencia y unos intereses muy bien definidos， además de ser la heredera de una fortuna considerable que le dejaría su padre。 Por lo tanto， las preguntas que nos podríamos hacer son: ¿será acaso el interés del muchacho totalmente sincero con nuestra protagonista？ ¿O es que habrá alguna artimaña detrás de todo？ ¿O quizá la idea de que el joven Townsend sea un peligro para Catherine está solo en los pensamientos de su padre， el doctor Sloper？ Vale la pena averiguarlo。 Con unas descripciones muy sutiles pero significativas， que te transportan al Nueva York de mediados del siglo XIX， unos personajes que se hacen querer u odiar （dependiendo de por quien sienta el lector mayor inclinación）， un narrador al que le gusta meterse a dar su opinión de vez en cuando， y un final rápido pero memorable， esta pequeña novela se posiciona como mi favorita del autor y muy probablemente mi mejor lectura （junto con 22/11/63） de lo que llevo leído este mes。 En conclusión， si se desea leer algo corto， una historia y unos diálogos muy bien escritos y una protagonista que se convierte en un personaje digno de recordar， sin duda esta obra es el ideal para ello。 。。。more

Hertha ，

There are no words to describe Washington Square ， I couldn't put it down。 There are no words to describe Washington Square ， I couldn't put it down。 。。。more

Ann ，

I'm humble enough to start with the "most accessible work" of a classical author ☺ I'm humble enough to start with the "most accessible work" of a classical author ☺ 。。。more

Alex ，

This novel is not banal with a happy ending or any obvious climax， which I like。 However， there are too many passages of abstract summary that the omniscient narrator makes on the personality or essence of characters， which， from such a famous author， is surprising and disappointing。

Anne Wood ，

A beautiful piece of literature， deftly written and sublime in its perspective on human nature。

Leah Douglas ，

Certainly an excellent word crafter。 I’ve read enough of him now to see the ending coming。 Always a bit disappointing。 This one was nothing astonishing。 Complete opposite character than Portrait of a Lady。 I preferred Portrait for a novel， though Catherine in this one was more of a “good person”。

Laura ，

A classic novel by Henry James in 1880 that is in no way stilted or boring。 The characters are clearly drawn， and you can picture them even if you never saw the movie with Mongomery Clift as the gold-digger （Morris） or Olivia de Havilland as the rich but unsavvy target （Catherine） of his designs。 Catherine's own father calls her a goose。 We laugh， but even this goose eventually catches on that Morris was more interested in her fortune than her self。 A classic novel by Henry James in 1880 that is in no way stilted or boring。 The characters are clearly drawn， and you can picture them even if you never saw the movie with Mongomery Clift as the gold-digger （Morris） or Olivia de Havilland as the rich but unsavvy target （Catherine） of his designs。 Catherine's own father calls her a goose。 We laugh， but even this goose eventually catches on that Morris was more interested in her fortune than her self。 。。。more

Anson Cassel Mills ，

Henry James wrote Washington Square as a magazine serial， and in later years， virtually disowned it。 Though none of the characters in this novella-of-manners are truly heroic， James’s protagonist， the stolid Catherine Sloper， does mature into a woman who knows enough of her own mind to say no both to her cold and fearsome father and to her caddish， fortune-hunting lover。 As Clifton Fadiman （1904-1999） wrote of the work more than seventy years ago， its prose is “pure and unmannered” and its story Henry James wrote Washington Square as a magazine serial， and in later years， virtually disowned it。 Though none of the characters in this novella-of-manners are truly heroic， James’s protagonist， the stolid Catherine Sloper， does mature into a woman who knows enough of her own mind to say no both to her cold and fearsome father and to her caddish， fortune-hunting lover。 As Clifton Fadiman （1904-1999） wrote of the work more than seventy years ago， its prose is “pure and unmannered” and its story line one that “retains its soundness， its freshness， and its charm。” 。。。more

Angelina ，

3，5 estrellas

FERNANDA ，

3。5 ⭐

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Washington Square

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Washington Square&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Washington Square&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0