The Aspern Papers Book

I generally do not like to discuss the plot in a review. And I will not in this one either. But apart from delighting in James' prose and in his superb ability to characterize and develop personalities, reading this novella has made me think about what makes a good story.

For I was captured by the suspense James created out of a relatively simple situation.

What makes a good plot? It certainly needs a structure, a kind of frame that gives it independence and self-sufficiency. That means it demands its own space. It also requires to move along time and to make the reader want to press on that sensation of progress, or rather, to want the waiting and the anxious curiosity disappear and time to evaporate. And for this, an illusion of necessity has to be created when the story unfolds for it has to surprise and satisfy him.

James builds up the suspense by playing with the elasticity of time. He has us waiting. He makes us participants of the contained patience of the hunter who restlessly waits for his loot. But then monotony is woken up suddenly by a move from its prey. And everything is on the move again and acceleration presses on. Only to stop again when the chased turns around and faces us.

This is just one such aspect of this wonderful novella, it seems this one was James' favourite.

Another one would be the warning relevant to those of us who may be lured by the fascination of an artist and his deification. Relic-adoration can make one's mind, and morals, turn.

Beware, Proust-ians...

Beware, Shelley-ians...