Greville Fane by Henry James (1892)
The novel revolves around the complex relationships between Greville Fane and her acquaintances, particularly a young woman who becomes infatuated with her. The story explores themes of loneliness, social conventions, and the human desire for connection. Through Greville's character, James critiques societal expectations placed on women, highlighting their limited options and the consequences of their choices.
By Henry James · First published 1892 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Satire, Drama · 9,946 words
First lines
COMING in to dress for dinner, I found a telegram: "Mrs. Stormer dying; can you give us half a column for to-morrow evening? Let her off easy, but not too easy. " I was late; I was in a hurry; I had very little time to think, but at a venture I dispatched a reply: "Will do what I can. " It was not till I had dressed and was rolling away to dinner that, in the hansom, I bethought myself of the difficulty of the condition attached. The difficulty was not of course in letting her off easy but in qualifying that indulgence. "I simply won't qualify it," I said to myself. I didn't admire her, but I liked her, and I had known her so long that I almost felt heartless in sitting down at such an hour to a feast of indifference. I must have seemed abstracted, for the early years of my acquaintance with her came back to me. I spoke of her to the lady I had taken down, but the lady I had taken down had never heard of Greville Fane. I tried my other neighbour, who pronounced her books "too vile. " I had never thought them very good, but I should let her off easier than that.
What this Textopian page supports
Greville Fane is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry James, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry James
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Satire, Drama, Social Commentary, Realism
- Length: 9,946 words
- Structure: 1 section, 37 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Greville Fane by Henry James
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Greville Fane?
- How does this short story by Henry James fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, social commentary, and the exploration of human relationships, typical of literary fiction.
- Satire — The story critiques societal norms and the literary world, using irony and wit to highlight the absurdities of the characters' lives.
- Drama — The plot involves emotional conflicts, family dynamics, and personal struggles, which are central elements of drama.
- Social Commentary — The text examines and critiques social structures, class distinctions, and the literary profession, making it a work of social commentary.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Novel · Social Commentary · Satire · Comedy of Manners · English Literature · 19th Century Literature · Realism · Character Study · Middle Class Life · Marriage · Love