The Real Thing and Other Tales by Henry James

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About this eBook

Author James, Henry, 1843-1916
Title The Real Thing and Other Tales
Note Reading ease score: 68.6 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Credits Transcribed from 1893 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price. Proofed by Nina Hall, Mohua Sen, Bridie, Francine Smith and David
Summary "The Real Thing and Other Tales" by Henry James is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The narratives often explore themes of identity, perception, and the nature of reality through the lens of different characters' experiences, focusing particularly on the complexities of social roles and appearances. The opening of "The Real Thing" presents us with an intriguing scenario involving an artist who is unexpectedly visited by a couple, Major Monarch and his wife. Initially, he assumes they are models seeking to be painted and is surprised to discover that they wish to be illustrated for a book cover rather than portrayed in a grand portrait. As they describe their past life of privilege, now reduced to financial struggles, the artist grapples with his perceptions of them and their unassuming aspirations. This initial encounter sets up an exploration of authenticity versus appearance as he reflects on their suitability as models in his artistic endeavors, noticing that while they represent "the real thing" in many respects, they lack the evocative range necessary for true artistic representation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Short stories
Subject Married people -- Fiction
Subject Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Subject Social classes -- Fiction
Subject Artists -- Fiction
Subject Artists' models -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 2715
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Feb 14, 2015
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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