Book description
The illegitimate and impoverished son of a dressmaker and a nobleman,
Hyacinth Robinson has grown up with a strong sense of beauty that
heightens his acute sympathy for the inequalities that surround him.
Drawn into a secret circle of radical politics he makes a rash vow to
commit a violent act of terrorism. But when the Princess Casamassima -
beautiful, clever and bored - takes him up and introduces him to her own
world of wealth and refinement, Hyacinth is torn. He is horrified by the
destruction that would be wreaked by revolution, but still believes he
must honour his vow, and finds himself gripped in an agonizing and,
ultimately, fatal dilemma. A compelling blend of psychological
observation, wit and compassion, The Princess Casamassima (1886) is one
of Henry James's most deeply personal novels. Henry James (1843-1916)
was born in New York and settled in Europe in 1875. He was a regular
contributor of reviews, critical essays, and short stories to American
periodicals. He is best known for his many novels of American and
European character.
