One of James’s shorter novels and perhaps one of his most loved, at least by readers who sympathise with Fleda’s assumption of a high moral stance rather than with Mrs Gereth’s predicament! When I first checked for e-texts of James’ works in 1998 I was surprised not to find The spoils already complete. Now, some two years later, here I am introducing what I believe to be the first e-text version.
Unlike the currently available paperback editions, which choose the revised New York Edition text, this e-text follows the first book edition. Courtesy of the Boston Book Annex I was able to buy a copy of the 1897 London edition at an affordable price (largely because it has been rebound, aparently after slight water damamge at some stage, however this has not affected its value as a text). For full details of the source and method used in preparing this e-text see my separate textual note.
I hope to include a guide to the extensive critical discussion of the work in the bibliography, which currently outlines sources and editions, at some time in the future. At present you can just start reading.
enjoy...
Adrian Dover
this introduction
© 2003
part of an etext edition of
The spoils of Poynton
on
the Ladder : a Henry James website