The Aspern Papers
“The Aspern Papers” by Henry James is a classic novel that revolves around a biographer’s quest to obtain private letters of the celebrated poet Jeffrey Aspern. The story delves into themes of privacy, idolatry, and the boundaries between art and life.
About This Ebook
“The Aspern Papers” follows a young biographer who goes to great lengths to secure the personal correspondence of the deceased poet Jeffrey Aspern. Set in a secluded Venetian residence, the narrative involves the biographer infiltrating the life of Julia Bordereau, an elderly woman in possession of Aspern’s letters. As he becomes more entangled in the Bordereau family dynamics, the biographer faces increasing moral dilemmas. This work highlights James’s skill in psychological depth and his exploration of the late 19th-century literary world’s preoccupation with legacy and fame.