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"Wonderfully readable and totally involving, the short novels of Henry James allow readers to experience the full range of his skill and vision. The six works chosen for this edition contain all the major themes of his fiction. In the title story, a chilling masterpiece of psychological terror, James mixes the phantoms of the mind with those of the supernatural. 'Daisy Miller,' the story of a provincial American girl in Rome that established James' literary reputation, and 'An International Episode' are superb examples of his social drama, focusing on the clash between Americna and European values. And in 'The Aspern Papers,' 'The Altar of the Dead,' and 'The Beast of the Jungle,' his superb sense of irony, his love of a plot twist, and his view of male and female relationships all find exquisite expression. This antholy functions as a perfect James primer: an accessible rout eto the singular art and imagination of an author who profoundly influenced American writing for a century to come." -- back cover
