The Aspern Papers

In The Aspern Papers (1888), an unscrupulous critic is hunting for the papers of the late Jeffrey Aspern, former lover of the ancient, aloof and imperious Miss Juliana Bordereau. More accessible by far is her sister Miss Tina, middle-aged, frumpish, and completely unpredictable. From their vast palace in a musty corner of magical Venice, these sisters' wrangling with their anonymous critic exemplifies James's concern with the impact of ancient European civilization upon American identity.