The Story of It by Henry James
It revolves around a young American woman who travels to Europe with her cousin and becomes embroiled in a complex web of relationships and moral dilemmas. The story explores themes of identity, morality, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Henry James · First published 1904 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction · 3 chapters · 9,066 words
First lines
The weather had turned so much worse that the rest of the day was / certainly lost. The wind had risen and the storm gathered force; they / gave from time to time a thump at the firm windows and dashed even / against those protected by the verandah their vicious splotches of rain. / Beyond the lawn, beyond the cliff, the great wet brush of the sky dipped / deep into the sea. But the lawn, already vivid with the touch of May, / showed a violence of watered green; the budding shrubs and trees / repeated the note as they tossed their thick masses, and the cold / troubled light, filling the pretty saloon, marked the spring afternoon / as sufficiently young. The two ladies seated there in silence could / pursue without difficulty -- as well as, clearly, without / interruption -- their respective tasks; a confidence expressed, when the / noise of the wind allowed it to be heard, by the sharp scratch of Mrs. / Dyott's pen at the table where she was busy with letters.
What this Textopian page supports
The Story of It is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry James, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Social Commentary, Romance
- Length: 9,066 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 214 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Story of It 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
Similar titles
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- The Birthplace by Henry James
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- The American by Henry James
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, intricate relationships, and the subtleties of social interactions, hallmarks of literary fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters, exploring their psychological complexities.
- Domestic Fiction — The setting and plot revolve around domestic life and the personal relationships within it.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques and reflects on societal norms and behaviors, particularly in the context of relationships and social expectations.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · Philosophical Themes · Existential Crisis · Coming-of-Age Story · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Identity Crisis · Morality Play · Symbolism · Stream-of-Consciousness · Inner Monologue