Henry james he died a day like today of 1916 in London. Recognized as one of the great storytellers of modern fictionHe was also a literary critic and playwright. To remind you, this is a review of 5 of his main novels which were also adapted to the cinema: Retrato de una dama, Bostonians, Another twist, washington square y The golden cup.
Washington Square (The Heiress) (1880)
They say that argument of this novel is based in a anecdote that one commented to him friend about his brother, a hunter who had approached an ugly and rather bland young woman but heiress of a father who would deny her his fortune if she married him. Henry James thought it first like a story, but it was lengthening until he composed a novel.
- La film version it's a masterpiece that he directed William wyler en 1949. Its main protagonists (Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Cliff) nailed James's literary characters into interpretations that, for example, Havilland reported a Oscar award as best actress.
Retrato de una dama (1881)
Possibly his most famous work together with Another twist. The stars Isabel archer, an intelligent and presumptuous young woman who travels to Europe after having rejected a English nobleman so as not to lose your freedom. Already in Europe, reject again to another suitor, a compatriot who has followed her against her wishes. A cousin of hers, Ralph, is a third candidate who does not declare his love because of his poor health. In the end Isabel marries a American a artist who fails to succeed in art, with little money and a young daughter, Pansy, raised in a convent.
- It was taken to the movies in a version of Jane Campion who led in 1996 with Nicole Kidman y John Malkovich protagonists.
Bostonians (1886)
The stars Olive chancellor, a single woman who has taken up the new cause of women's rights in United States. His inspiration it was the speech of a young woman, Verena tarrant, and Olive makes her a spokesperson for her doctrine. Verena, grateful, lives and travels with Olive and wants to remain loyal to her, despite Olive's possessive character and being pretended by a confederate veteran called Basil ramsom.
- Su film adaptation ran in charge of James Ivory en 1984 and in its cast are Vanessa Redgrave, Madeleine Potter and Christopher Reeve. Although there are more versions, such as a series on RTVE from 1978.
Another twist (1898)
His best known ghost story. With a protagonist who is a young woman who comes to Bly's mansion to be the governess of Flora and Miles, two children who have been orphaned and under the tutelage of his uncle, owner of the house. Soon discover that the children visit periodically a man and a woman who died a year ago. Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper, tells you who they were: Peter quint, valet of the children's uncle; Y miss jessel, the previous preceptor. Suspecting any bad intentions they may have, the young governess decides to defend the children doing the impossible.
- La last adaptation he just made it to the big screen Steven Spielberg en this version which opens in April.
The golden cup (1904)
The protagonists are Maggie Verver and her widowed father, two very wealthy Americans settled in England. Maggie marries an Italian aristocrat, Prince Amerigo, and the three coexist happily until daughter and father are convinced that it is better for the widower to remarry. Will do it with Charlotte stant, a woman who seems like the most suitable wife. What they don't know is that there was a romantic relationship between Charlotte and Amerigo above, which makes Maggie jealous. But by a rare coincidence the purchase of a golden cup that brought the former lovers together, Maggie will know the truth.
- Took her to the movies again James Ivory en 2001, with Uma Thurman, Angelica huston and James Fox among its cast.