[.ca] The Tragic Muse (ISBN 1419185659)

A Wonderful Surprise:
This James novel is an overlooked masterpiece. I'm not entirely certain I don't like it every bit as much as the often praised "Wings of the Dove". Art with a capital "A" is the subject at hand and Miriam Rooth (the Tragic Muse), Peter Sherringham and Nick Dormer all have their own way of coming to terms with the idea of a life given over to Art. Favorite chapters are those on a visit to the Green Room of the Theatre Francaise and the magnificent Chapter XLVI. Considering that James made his choice of a life given up to literature at a very early age, one can't help seeing this book as his apologia. And a grand one it is, too!