One of James' most popular novellas, "The Aspern Papers" is based on the letters exchanged between the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife's stepsister Claire Clermont. An unnamed narrator sets on a journey to discover some long-lost letters, reaches Venice, and then has to decide what to do with his mission and life at the same time. A philosophically and psychologically engaging tale, "The Aspern Papers" can be read as a detective novel, romance, and a tragedy. The author pays special attention to the characters' inner worlds, creating a compelling and intriguing tale, suitable for readers of James and short fiction alike

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