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Figure in the Carpet
Figure in the Carpet | Henry James
6 posts | 6 read | 6 to read
The narrator, a writer for a literary newspaper, prides himself on his astute review of Hugh Vereker's latest novel. Vereker inadvertently dismisses his efforts, and then to repair his incivility, confides in the narrator that all critics have "missed my little point," "the particular thing I've written my books most for," "the thing for the critic to find," "my secret," "like a complex figure in a Persian carpet." The narrator racks his brains and, in desperation, tells his friend Corvick of the puzzle. Corvick and his novelist fiancee, Gwendolen, pursue "the trick" without success until Corvick, traveling alone in India, wires Gwendolen and the narrator "Eureka! Immense." He refuses, however, to divulge the secret to Gwendolen until after they are married, and then dies in an accident. Since Gwendolen refuses to share her knowledge, the narrator speculates, "the figure in the carpet [was] traceable or describable only for husbands and wives-for lovers supremely united." She remarries, and after her death, the narrator approaches her new husband to discover the secret. But the widowed husband is surprised and humiliated by the news of his late wife's great "secret," and he and the narrator conclude by sharing the same curiosity."
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review
TCLinrow
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Panpan

Wow did I hit a writing slump this month! O couldn't even focus on Audiobooks for a lot of the month, but finally seem to be back to reading... as long as my next pick isn't so dull anyway!

It was hard for me to read - not because it was particularly complicated but because the writing style reminded me of H Rider Haggard in She. It was convoluted and very filled up with it's own self importance.

TCLinrow The obsession of the writer with the deeper meaning he had put in his writing being overlooked despite still receiving critical praise was just frustratingly pretentious. Not for me. 3y
36 likes1 comment
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Naz786
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Mehso-so

⭐⭐.5/5

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veritysalter
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A little intrigue and confusion on a sunny English afternoon.

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Brie
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Pickpick

A curious novella-length short story concerning a literary puzzle and mysterious death. A literary critic meets his favorite author and becomes obsessed with discovering the secret meaning behind all his books, with troubling results.

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Improperlycookedblowfish
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October TBR. So excited. 😁😁😁

MrBook I absolutely love your handle by the way 😆👏🏻😎👌🏻 8y
12 likes3 comments
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Obviousstate
Figure in the Carpet | Henry James
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“It stretches, this little trick of mine, from book to book, and everything else, comparatively, plays over the surface of it.” I‘m enjoying this literary chess game. If you‘ve ever searched for meaning in an author‘s work, this may cause you to consider whether you‘ve been played.

12 likes5 stack adds