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Washington Square

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( 25,287 ratings, 2,258 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Washington Square by Henry James follows the story of Catherine Sloper, the daughter of a wealthy physician in 19th-century New York. Catherine falls in love with a charming suitor named Morris Townsend, but her father disapproves, suspecting Morris is only after her fortune. The novel explores themes of love, deception, and familial duty as Catherine faces complex personal dilemmas.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy intricate character studies and explorations of human relationships. Set in New York City during the 19th century, it delves into the complexities of family dynamics, romance, and societal expectations. Its themes of manipulation and love remain timeless and resonate with those interested in psychological depth and classic literature.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

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.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A classics tale of romance in urban nineteenth-century America

When timid and plain Catherine Sloper acquires a dashing and determined suitor, her father, convinced that the young man is nothing more than a fortune-hunter, decides to put a stop to their romance. Torn between her desire to win her father's love and approval and her passion for the first 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.

Henry 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.

Washington Square provides readers with a vivid exploration of the conflicts between societal expectations and personal desires.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Washington Square by Henry James is often praised for its incisive character study and exploration of themes such as marriage and societal expectations. Critics admire the novel for its keen psychological insights and the depth with which it portrays the protagonist, Catherine Sloper. The book is noted for its subtle irony and the tension between personal desires and duty, which makes it a compelling read for those interested in intricate human relationships.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141441368

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 June 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Edited by Martha Banta

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 195g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Henry James was born in 1843 in Washington Place, New York, of Scottish and Irish ancestry, and died in 1916. In addition to many short stories, plays, books of criticism, autobiography and travel, he wrote some twenty novels, the first published being Roderick Hudson (1875). They include The Europeans, Washington Square, The Portrait of a Lady, The Bostonians, The Princess Casamassima, The Tragic Muse, The Spoils of Poynton, The Awkward Age, The Wings of the Dove, The Ambassadors and The Golden Bowl.

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