The Old Things

By Henry James

Book Overview

The Old Things is a novel by the renowned American author, Henry James. The story is set in the late 19th century and revolves around the lives of the aristocratic residents of a small town in England. The main character, Miss Tita, is a young woman who lives with her aunt and uncle. She is a shy and introverted person who spends most of her time reading books and taking care of her aunt.The story begins when Miss Tita's uncle, Mr. Gabriel Nash, comes back from a trip to Italy with a mysterious package. The package contains a set of old things that belonged to a wealthy Italian family. Mr. Nash is convinced that the items are valuable and hopes to sell them for a large sum of money. However, the arrival of the old things sets off a series of events that disrupt the peaceful lives of everyone involved.As the story progresses, the characters become embroiled in a web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives. Miss Tita finds herself caught between her loyalty to her uncle and her growing feelings for a young American man, Mr. Bream. Meanwhile, Mr. Nash's obsession with the old things begins to consume him, leading to a tragic end.The Old Things is a story about the clash between old and new, tradition and modernity, and the consequences of greed and obsession. James' writing style is known for its intricate and nuanced characterizations, and this novel is no exception. The characters are complex and multifaceted, with their own motivations and desires. The novel is a masterful exploration of human nature and the complexities of relationships.THAT SHE desired to ask no questions Mrs. Gereth conscientiously proved by closing her lips tight after Fleda had gone to London. No letter from Ricks arrived at West Kensington, and Fleda, with nothing to communicate that could be to the taste of either party, forbore to open a correspondence. If her heart had been less heavy, she might have been amused to perceive how much rope this reticence of Ricks seemed to signify to her that she could take. She had, at all events, no good news for her friend save in the sense that her silence was not bad news. She was not yet in a position to write that she had ""cut in;"" but neither, on the other hand, had she gathered material for announcing that Mona was undisseverable from her prey.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419176145
• ISBN13: 9781419176142
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.6" x 9.3"