This is so scandalous. Just page after page of the most outrageous, blatant behaviour. Absolutely shocking. And I’m saying that partly from the perspective of an anachronistic approximation of the headspace of a just about still Victorian reader, because this is a book very much about that period and its norms and morals — but also from 2022 too. There’s an interesting thought, I guess, that it’s easier to be a moral person in an era of more moral permissiveness, because pursuing something like a separation from an imperfect spouse doesn’t need to be done illicitly, and therefore doesn’t force you to let down children. But still. The drama.

But also not the drama? Because I guess that’s the thing about sticking so closely with Maisie — it’s scandalous but never in a fun gossip way. It’s about impact and corruption and condemnation. Maisie’s a good little character, I must say. I like her a lot, as far as she exists. And she’s funny! Children in the 19th century never get to be funny! This is not (n’t) a coherent review but basically, good book. Really pulled me in and kept me reading. Once you get into them (which sometimes takes a page or two), it’s hard to escape the encompassing leviathans that are Henry James’ sentences. 

Also my copy had a much nicer cover than this but I couldn’t find it, so I just picked the one with the closest page count.