Henry James
The Pension Beaurepas
"The Pension Beaurepas" by Henry James is a novel written during the late 19th century that explores themes of human nature and social interactions within a boarding house setting. The story is narrated from the perspective of an unnamed young American who has come to Geneva, drawn by a desire to observe and understand people, inspired by literary figures like Stendhal and Balzac. The primary focus revolves around his experiences at the Pension Beaurepas and the colorful array of characters he encounters, including the proprietors, Madame Beaurepas and her niece, and various eccentric boarders. The opening of the novel introduces the narrator as he settles into the Pension Beaurepas, noting its humble yet charming ambiance and the practical nature of its elderly landlady. Through his eyes, we meet other residents: an old Frenchman and a young American, as well as a new arrival who exudes airs of gentility. The narrator's observations highlight the dynamics of boarding-house life, marked by social interactions and the personal quirks of its inhabitants, as he grapples with the blend of comfort, simplicity, and underlying tensions among the diverse characters, particularly the Ruck family, who appear to embody the tensions between American and European sensibilities. Overall, it sets the stage for a social critique wrapped in the nuances of personal relationships.