It's a Kind of Magic: Henry James's "Covering End" and the Ghost in the Literary Machina.

  • Published In: Henry James Review, 2025, v. 46, n. 1. P. 14 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Vericat, Fabio L. 3 of 3

Abstract

To make sense of what Henry James called the "divine principle of the scenario" it may be best to think of ghosts. If in Theatricals James talks of "the ghostly experience" of reading the unperformed plays he put to print, it is also worth exploring the plays James further turned into tales. It could help to better understand the unlikely tales that compose The Two Magics , where "Covering End" (1898)—an adaptation of his light comedy, Summersoft (1895)—stands uneasily next to James's most famous gothic tale, "The Turn of the Screw." It may be that there are more ghosts to "Covering End" than meet the eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:Henry James Review. 2025/01, Vol. 46, Issue 1, p14
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0273-0340
  • DOI:10.1353/hjr.2025.a950894
  • Accession Number:182884548
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