The Aspern Papers

For the 2018 film, seeThe Aspern Papers (film).For the 1987 opera, seeThe Aspern Papers (opera).

The Aspern Papersis a novella by American writerHenry James,originally published inThe Atlantic Monthlyin 1888, with its first book publication later in the same year. One of James's best-known and most acclaimed longer tales,The Aspern Papersis based on the lettersPercy Bysshe Shelleywrote toMary Shelley's stepsister,Claire Clairmont,who saved them until she died. Set inVenice,The Aspern Papersdemonstrates James's ability to generate suspense while never neglecting the development of his characters.

The Aspern Papers

First edition title page
Author	Henry James
Language	English
Genre	Novella
Publisher	Macmillan and Co., London, New York City
Publication date	London: 29 September 1888 New York City: 10 November 1888
Publication place	United Kingdom, United States
Media type	Print
Pages	London: volume one, 239; volume two, 258 New York City: 290 Both editions also included the storiesLouisa PallantandThe Modern Warning
Dewey Decimal	813.4

Plot summary

A nameless narrator goes toVeniceto find Juliana Bordereau, an old lover of Jeffrey Aspern, a famous and now dead American poet. The narrator presents himself to the old woman as a prospective lodger and is prepared to court her niece Miss Tita (renamedMiss Tinain later editions), a plain, somewhat naïve spinster, in hopes of getting a look at some of Aspern's letters and other papers kept by Juliana. Miss Tita had denied the existence of any such papers in a letter to the narrator and his publishing partner, but he believes she was dissembling on instructions from Juliana. The narrator eventually discloses his intentions to Miss Tita, who promises to help him.

Later, Juliana offers to sell aportrait miniatureof Aspern to the narrator for an exorbitant price. She doesn't mention Jeffrey Aspern's name, but the narrator still believes she possesses some of his letters. When the old woman falls ill, the narrator ventures into her room and gets caught by Juliana as he is about to rifle her desk for the letters. Juliana calls the narrator a "publishing scoundrel" and collapses. The narrator flees, and when he returns some days later, he discovers that Juliana has died. Miss Tita hints that he can have the Aspern letters if he marries her.

Again, the narrator flees. At first he feels he can never accept the proposal, but gradually he begins to change his mind. When he returns to see Miss Tita, she bids him farewell and tells him that she has burned all the letters one by one. The narrator never sees the precious papers, but he does send Miss Tita some money for the miniature portrait of Aspern which she gave him.

Major themes

James (a very private man) examines the conflicts involved when a biographer seeks to pry into the intimate life of his subject. James paints the nameless narrator ofThe Aspern Papersas, in Juliana's words, a "publishing scoundrel", but also generates sympathy for the narrator as he tries to work the papers loose from Juliana, who is presented as greedy, domineering and unappealing.

The story unwinds into the double climax of Juliana's discovery of the narrator about to break into her desk, and Miss Tita's revelation that she has destroyed the papers. Miss Tita is ashamed of her marriage proposal to the narrator, but James implies that she does exactly the right thing by depriving him of the papers. In a way, she develops into the trueheroineof the story.

Critical evaluation

James thought so highly of this story that he put it first in volume 12 of TheNew York Edition,ahead of evenThe Turn of the Screw.Critics have almost unanimously agreed with him about the tale's superb quality. Leon Edel wrote, "The story moves with the rhythmic pace and tension of a mystery story; and the double climax... gives this tale... high drama".

Text versions

The Aspern Paperswas first published in three parts in March–May 1888 editions ofThe Atlantic Monthly,and published in book form in London and New York later in the same year. It was subsequently revised, with the addition of a Preface and changes including "Miss Tita" being renamed to "Miss Tina", for the 1908New York Edition.

Film, play and opera versions

• The 1947 filmThe Lost Momentwas loosely based onThe Aspern Papers.It starredSusan Haywardas Miss Tina andRobert Cummingsas the narrator.
• In 1959,The Aspern Paperswas adapted for the stage byMichael Redgraveand successfully produced at theQueen's Theatrein London'sWest End,with Redgrave andFlora Robsonin the lead roles. ABroadwayproduction followed in 1962 starringMaurice EvansandWendy Hiller.The play has been revived a number of times since.
• In 1974, London Weekend Television (ITV) madeAffairs of the Heart,a collection of seven dramatisations of stories by Henry James. The third episode, "Miss Tita", was a fairly close adaptation ofThe Aspern Papers.It starred Margaret Tyzack as Miss Tita, Beatrix Lehmann as Juliana Bordereau, and John Carson as Charles Faversham, the narrator.
• In 1984 the play was produced at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London. The cast includedVanessa Redgraveplaying Miss Tina, the lead, and Wendy Hiller playing Juliana.Christopher Reeveplayed the male lead, Henry Jarvis. Vanessa Redgrave was given the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a revival.
• The 1985 filmAspern,directed byEduardo de Gregorio,starringJean Sorel,Bulle OgierandAlida Valli
• In 1988 theDallas Operapresented the world premiere ofDominick Argento's operaThe Aspern Papers.In the same year, and on the same day (11 November) an opera byPhilip Hagemann,also based on the novel, and with the same title, was premiered atNorthwestern University.
• The 1991 filmEls Papers d'Aspern,directed byJordi Cadena,starringSílvia Munt
• In 2002,Les Papiers d'Aspern,scenic adaptation by Jean Pavans, staged by Jacques Lassalle, produced by the Comédie-Française.
• On 26 April 2010,BBC Radio 4began broadcasting an abridged audio version ofThe Aspern Papers,in theirBook at Bedtimeslot. It was read bySamuel West.
• The 2010 filmThe Aspern Papers,directed byMariana Hellmund,starring Judith Roberts andBrooke Smith,Felix d'Alviella, Joan Juliet Buck, Lourdes Brito and, Marvin Huise.
• Another film titledThe Aspern Paperswas released in 2018. It is directed byJulien Landais,and starsJonathan Rhys Meyers,Vanessa Redgrave,Joely Richardson,Poppy Delevingne,Jon KortajarenaandBarbara Meier.

Sources

• Tales of Henry James: The Texts of the Tales, the Author on His Craft, Criticismedited by Christof Wegelin and Henry Wonham (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2003)ISBN0-393-97710-2
• The Tales of Henry JamesbyEdward Wagenknecht(New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1984)ISBN0-8044-2957-X

External links

• Works related toThe Aspern Papersat Wikisource
• Media related toThe Aspern Papersat Wikimedia Commons
• Original magazine text ofThe Aspern Papers(1888)
• First book text ofThe Aspern Papers(1888)
• The Aspern Paperspublic domain audiobook atLibriVox