The Author of Beltraffio

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

James, Henry, 1843-1916

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Author of Beltraffio" by Henry James is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around a young American admirer, who visits the reclusive English author Mark Ambient, known for his celebrated work "Beltraffio". The narrative dives into themes of artistic genius, the complexity of relationships, and the tensions between personal and artistic lives, contextualized within the domestic and familial dynamics of Ambient and his wife. The opening of the novel introduces the narrator, who is filled with both eagerness and anxiety about meeting the celebrated author, Mark Ambient. He reflects on the impact of Ambient's writing, which has profoundly influenced his understanding of art and beauty. As the narrator finally meets Ambient, he observes the author's engaging yet complex character, including his relationship with his wife, Beatrice, and their beautiful son, Dolcino. Tension is evident within their family dynamics, particularly concerning Beatrice's disapproval of Ambient's literary works, which she believes could have a negative influence on their child. This domestic unease sets the stage for deeper explorations of creative genius and the contradictions inherent in art and life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by David Widger

Notes:

Reading ease score: 75.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Author_of_Beltraffio

Release date is 2007-06-08