Henry’s first book - and so the first book in my James readathon. He basically disowned it in later life and it’s easy to see why. The subject matter is creepy to modern tastes and it’s paper-thin. Some good bits but really it’s what they used to call ‘juvenilia’. ( )

Completely terrible and creepy. It's so reassuring that even Henry James wasn't always Henry James. ( )

Just finished this, James' first published full-length novel and was absolutely stunned and moved at how good it was. It reminded me a bit of Beethoven's splendid Opus 1 piano trios- so completely formed with so much that was to triumphantly follow in the years to come foreshadowed. Nora Lambert, like Isabel Archer, is a heroine to remember and revisit and be eternally grateful for.