31: Chs 2–3 Turn of the Screw

11/17/06 • 47 min

CraftLit - Serialized Classic Literature for Busy Book Lovers

(Apologies although I blathered quite a bit anyway...) This week, chapters 2-3! from Dawn, some victorian pruditry, more wonderful emails from y'all, how to be an ostritch rather than a governess, and on our author. His dad was a (say THAT three times fast) and I thought--when working through the "ghost" question-- was ellucidating: Although James had rejected in the beginning of his career "spirit-rappings and ghost-raising", in the 1880s he become interested in the unconscious and the supernatural. In 1908 he wrote that "Peter Quint and Miss Jessel are not 'ghosts' at all, as we now know the ghost, but goblins, elves, imps, demons as loosely constructed as those of the old trials for whichcraft; if not, more pleasingly, fairies of the legendary order, wooing their victims forth to see them dance under the moon." Virginia Woolf thought that Henry James's ghost have nothing in common with the violent old ghosts - "the blood-stained captains, the white horses, the headless ladies of dark lanes and windy commons." Edmund Wilson was convinced that the story was "primarily intended as a characterization of the governess". Then there's the "corruption" question. Ah...the tangled web... ALERT: I just this second got this email from MaryBeth--right after uploading the 'Cast. Darnit. But it's worth noting here: Loved your comments on the Fog Index. I'm a technical editor, and I have the following quote by Melville on my wall at work: "A man of true science uses but few hard words, and only those when none other will serve his purpose; whereas the smatterer in science thinks that by mouthing hard words he proves that he understands hard things." Is that not brilliant?! I love Melville...but I'm not gonna do Moby Dick...not for a couple of years, anyway. See how I love you? Many thanks to for her SEXY reading of Henry James' Turn of the Screw.

Previous Episode

30: Ch 1 Turn of the Screw

Cool things to check out: not to be believed (Thank you !), Check out 's site and then check into ! It's not too late! Then there's (One World, One Cloth), and I ran out of time to talk about from . I'll never do to you. Here's Henry, by the way: By Unknown photographer - taken from the frontispiece of Short Story Classics (American) Volume Three, edited by William Patten, copyright 1905, printed by P.F. Collier & Son. Photographer unknown. Scanned by English Wikipedian, ., Public Domain, I think you'll need this over the next few weeks.: Character List Anonymous Narrator Probably represents Henry James. (Diagetic Level 1) Douglas The one in possession of the Governess' manuscript. He may have been in love with her. (Diagetic Level 2) The Governess The protagonist--twenty-year-old governess of Flora and Miles at the country estate of Bly. (Diagetic Level 3) Mrs. Grose A servant at Bly; illiterate, respectful. Miles A ten-year-old boy; charming, well-behaved, and very attractive. Flora An eight-year-old girl; beautiful and well mannered. The Children’s Uncle The governess's employer; good looking, but aloof with odd requirements for the job... Peter Quint A former valet at Bly; "infamous" throughout the area of Bly. Miss Jessel The governess's predecessor; a lady, young and beautiful, but "infamous," apparently had an inappropriate relationship with Quint. May thanks to for her SEXY reading of Henry James' Turn of the Screw. If you check out her site, you'll see why she's so good... except for that blasted microphone...

Next Episode

32: Chs 4–5 Turn of the Screw

You should also check out blog (gorgeous work!) Then go and get smart, RIGHT NOW! After expanding your brain, you can crack yourself up with my friend Peter on his . Don't forget to get your on! When you're done with that, embrace your inner Earth Mother and find out the skinny on . And in today's chapters, listen for the allusion to Jane Eyre that ol' Henry snuck into the first minute of this chapter. As we continue our governess will continue to show her true colors--not a pretty picture. And today's chapters reveal a bit more of James' brilliance. The Governess--who may still be nuts--does see someone who looks like Peter Quint. She had seen no pictures of him, but describes him to Mrs. Grose--well enough for her to identify the vision. Of course, the problem is...he's dead. So, the mystery deepens... Many thanks to for her SEXY reading of Henry James' Turn of the Screw. Oh, and I've moved all the links to previous episodes to the right side of the blog page at Craftlit.blogspot.com. There was a question as to why the files are so blasted big, and I'll tell you--I'd like to know that too! I'm working on it...