The Golden Bowl Hardcover - 2010

The Golden Bowl, Henry James’ last completed novel, is widely considered to be one of the author’s best works (along with The Ambassadors and The Wings of a Dove). In it, James continues to explore his favored themes of marriage, money, and psychological warfare. The novel, set in England, tells the story of American heiress Maggie Verver, who is engaged to Amerigo, an impoverished Italian prince. Maggie’s father, Adam, travels to London for the wedding and meets Charlotte Stant, a friend of both Maggie and the prince. In a nutshell, The Golden Bowl is about Maggie’s education on marriage, adultery, and the aftermath.

The title of the novel comes from a Biblical passage, Ecclesiastes 12:6-7: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern… then shall the dust return to the earth as it was…” The golden bowl, first seen in a London curio shop, is used emblematically throughout the novel.

The Golden Bowl is ranked 32nd on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century and 36th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels. Adaptations include the highly praised 1972 BBC six-hour-long televised version and the 2000 film directed by James Ivory, starring Uma Thurman, Nick Nolte, Kate Beckinsale, and Jeremy Northam.

Details

• Title The Golden Bowl
• Author Henry James
• Binding Hardcover
• Pages 416
• Volumes 1
• Language ENG
• Publisher Lits
• Date 2010-11-08
• ISBN 9781609421250 / 1609421256
• Weight 1.64 lbs (0.74 kg)
• Dimensions 9 x 6 x 1.06 in (22.86 x 15.24 x 2.69 cm)
• Themes
  • Chronological Period: 19th Century
  • Cultural Region: British
  • Sex & Gender: Feminine
  • Topical: Family
• Dewey Decimal Code FIC