I just started reading The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James. I already read The Aspern Papers by James, so I am somewhat accustomed to his style at this point. The Turn Of The Screw is supposed to be a ghost story of sorts, which I think will be interesting, as I've never read a quality literature ghost story. So far the characters that have been introduced are the original narrator, Douglas, the owner of the story, and their various friends who gather to hear the spooky tale. In the tale itself are the new governess, the children Flora, who is a very beatiful child, and her brother, said to be at least equally beautiful but whom we have yet to meet, Miles, as well as the maid, and the briefly mentioned master of the household. Some of the foreshadowing seems to hint at trouble with Miles' disposition, the curious death of the previous governess and what that means for the new one, the mistaking the maid's mention of a "he" for someone other than the master, and the children being eerily beautiful. These all may or may not have some affect in the overall plot line.
I wonder why James chose to start the story outside of the tale itself. Perhaps this was to build the background and the suspense, to introduce the idea to the reader that what they are about to read is indeed a ghost story. I wonder if the narrating will periodically shift from the governess back to the original so we can see how the group is enjoying it's telling. Maybe this would give the reader more insight when necessary, and allow for suspenseful breaks in the progression of the story. I do hope, however, that the end is not as aggravating as that of The Aspern Papers.
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