Mrs. Medwin by Henry James (1868)
The novel revolves around the complex relationships between a middle-aged American woman and her two daughters, one of whom is engaged to a British aristocrat. The story explores themes of identity, class, and cultural differences through the lens of their interactions with each other and with the aristocratic family they are about to join.
By Henry James · First published 1868 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Comedy of Manners · 4 chapters · 11,582 words
First lines
"Well, we ARE a pair! " the poor lady's visitor broke out to her at the end of her explanation in a manner disconcerting enough. The poor lady was Miss Cutter, who lived in South Audley Street, where she had an "upper half" so concise that it had to pass boldly for convenient; and her visitor was her half-brother, whom she hadn't seen for three years. She was remarkable for a maturity of which every symptom might have been observed to be admirably controlled, had not a tendency to stoutness just affirmed its independence. Her present, no doubt, insisted too much on her past, but with the excuse, sufficiently valid, that she must certainly once have been prettier. She was clearly not contented with once -- she wished to be prettier again. She neglected nothing that could produce that illusion, and, being both fair and fat, dressed almost wholly in black. When she added a little colour it was not, at any rate, to her drapery. Her small rooms had the peculiarity that everything they contained appeared to testify with vividness to her position in society, quite as if they had been furnished by the bounty of admiring friends. They were adorned indeed almost exclusively with objects that nobody buys, as had more than once been remarked by spectators of her own sex, for herself, and would have been luxurious if luxury consisted mainly in photographic portraits slashed across with signatures, in baskets of flowers beribboned with the cards of passing compatriots, and in a neat collection of red volumes, blue volumes, alphabetical volumes, aids to London lucidity, of every sort, devoted to addresses and engagements. To be in Miss Cutter's tiny drawing-room, in short, even with Miss Cutter alone -- should you by any chance have found her so -- was somehow to be in the world and in a crowd. It was like an agency -- it bristled with particulars.
What this Textopian page supports
Mrs. Medwin is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry James, dated 1868 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: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Comedy of Manners, Drama, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 11,582 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 258 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mrs. Medwin by Henry James
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Mrs. Medwin?
- 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?
Similar titles
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- The Ghost Of A Chance by Mary Cholmondeley
- The Windlestraw by John Galsworthy
- The Marriages by Henry James
- Mr Waddington Of Wyck by May Sinclair
- A Devotee by Mary Cholmondeley
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, social interactions, and the subtleties of human behavior, typical of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — The story explores themes of social class, reputation, and the complexities of societal expectations, reflecting a critique of social norms.
- Comedy of Manners — The plot revolves around the social behaviors and customs of the upper class, with a focus on wit and irony, characteristic of a comedy of manners.
- Drama — The narrative includes elements of personal conflict, emotional tension, and interpersonal relationships, aligning with the drama genre.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · Social Commentary · Marriage · Class Conflict · English Society · Victorian Era · Domestic Drama · Family Relationships · Morality · Ethics · Societal Expectations