Subject
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- Fiction Books
Best books
Henry James
The Golden Bowl — Complete
"The Golden Bowl — Complete" by Henry James is a novel published in 1904. Set in England, it explores the tangled relationships between a wealthy American father and daughter and their respective spouses—who share a secret past. When Maggie Verver begins to suspect an affair between her husband, Prince Amerigo, and her father's wife, Charlotte, she launches a delicate campaign to protect her family. James's final masterpiece features his characteristic dense prose and intense psychological insight into marriage, adultery, and betrayal.
Edith Wharton
False Dawn (The 'Forties)
"False Dawn (The 'Forties)" by Edith Wharton is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in a past era, specifically the 1840s, and revolves around the life of Lewis Raycie, a young man navigating familial expectations and his feelings for a girl named Treeshy Kent, while contemplating a Grand Tour of Europe that could change his life. The opening portion of the book introduces the characters at a farewell gathering for Lewis, highlighting the dynamics between him and his father, Mr. Halston Raycie, as well as other relatives and acquaintances. Through detailed descriptions of the setting and characters, we learn about Lewis's complex feelings regarding his father's expectations and his love for Treeshy. As he prepares for his voyage to Europe—a quest for experiences and identity—Lewis grapples with the weight of his upbringing and the desire to break free from familial constraints. The atmosphere is rich with social expectations, familial pride, and the nuanced interplay of affection and obligation, setting a captivating stage for the protagonist's journey.
Henry James
The Golden Bowl — Volume 2
"The Golden Bowl — Volume 2" by Henry James is a novel published in 1904. This intricate study of marriage and adultery follows the tangled relationships between wealthy American art collector Adam Verver, his daughter Maggie, and their spouses—Charlotte and Prince Amerigo. When Maggie discovers that her husband and her father's wife share a secret past, she launches a delicate campaign to separate them without revealing what she knows. James's dense, complex prose explores consciousness and deception with claustrophobic intensity in this final masterwork of his career.
Henry James
The Golden Bowl — Volume 1
"The Golden Bowl — Volume 1" by Henry James is a novel published in 1904. Set in England, it examines marriage and adultery through four interconnected lives: wealthy American collector Adam Verver, his daughter Maggie, her husband Prince Amerigo, and Adam's wife Charlotte. When Maggie discovers that her husband and Charlotte share a secret past, she begins a careful campaign to protect her father and her marriage. James's final major work showcases his complex late style, exploring consciousness with intricate detail and psychological depth.
David Graham Phillips
Her Serene Highness: A Novel
"Her Serene Highness: A Novel" by David Graham Phillips is a fictional narrative written in the early 20th century. It revolves around themes of art, love, and nobility, likely set against a backdrop of European aristocracy. The story primarily follows Frederick Grafton, an American art collector, as he becomes intertwined with the lives of a Grand Duke and his intriguing niece, Erica, highlighting the contrasts between commoner and royal expectations. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Frederick Grafton, who is passionately in pursuit of a particular painting, a spurious Velasquez, that he believes will enhance his collection. His obsession leads him to Zweitenbourg, where he encounters the Grand Duke and his niece, Erica. As Grafton navigates the intricacies of the aristocratic world, he accidentally crosses paths with Erica in a dress shop, and their subsequent interactions blossom amid social conventions and royal duties. The beginning sets the stage for a budding romance and hints at the tensions between personal desire and the weight of tradition and duty in a royal context.
Frank Jewett Mather
The Collectors: Being Cases mostly under the Ninth and Tenth Commandments
"The Collectors: Being Cases mostly under the Ninth and Tenth Commandments" by Frank Jewett Mather, Junr. is a collection of stories and reflections on the world of art collecting, likely written in the early 20th century. Through a series of narratives, the book explores the moral ambiguities and eccentricities of collectors and the interactions they have with art, experts, and each other. Each tale seems to examine the tensions between genuine appreciation of art and the pitfalls of greed and deception that often accompany collecting. The opening of the book sets the stage with a foreword discussing the various stories that follow, including a ballade about the sinful nature of collectors, and stories featuring characters like Campbell Corot, a talented but morally dubious picture forger, and a Great Lady whose artful ways entangle an unsuspecting expert. The myriad tales weave together themes of longing, betrayal, and the often duplicitous nature of the art world, hinting at the complexity and varying motivations behind the pursuit of art. As the opening unfolds, readers are introduced to a cast that includes patrons, critics, and artists, each contributing to a rich tapestry of commentary on the cultural and ethical dimensions of art collection.
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