Publisher's Synopsis
What Maisie Knew is a novel written by American author Henry James, first published in 1897. The story revolves around the life of a young girl named Maisie Farange, whose parents are divorced and constantly fighting for custody. As a result, Maisie is shuttled between her mother and father, both of whom are more concerned with their own affairs than with their daughter's well-being. Maisie's mother, a former opera singer, marries a younger man named Sir Claude, who is suspected of having an affair with Maisie's governess. Maisie's father, a wealthy businessman, marries Maisie's former governess, who is also suspected of having an affair. Throughout the novel, Maisie is forced to navigate the complicated relationships between her parents and their new spouses, all while trying to make sense of the adult world she finds herself in. As Maisie grows older, she begins to understand the true nature of the relationships around her, and the novel ends with her taking control of her own life and making decisions for herself. What Maisie Knew is a poignant and insightful exploration of the effects of divorce on children, and a critique of the Victorian society in which it is set.There was visibly, however, an influence that made Ida consider; she glanced at the gentleman she had left, who, having strolled with his hands in his pockets to some distance, stood there with unembarrassed vagueness. She directed to him the face that was like an illuminated garden, turnstile and all, for the frequentation of which he had his season-ticket; then she looked again at Sir Claude. ""I've given her up to her father to KEEP-- not to get rid of by sending about the town either with you or with any one else.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.