I read somewhere that The Jolly Corner is considered to be the second greatest ghost story written by James, after [Turn of the Screw], so I was happy to learn that my maiden voyage into James’ works was with such a worthy story. I was surprised by the depth and complexity of the story’s structure. James wrote such lush prose, even if the concept of the story – a man haunted by himself – is a strange situation to encounter. I am a fan of narratives that involve internal musings with a writing style that leads to thoughts flowing together. Stories written in this manner are meant to be read at a more leisurely pace, especially as the pacing of the story is key to the building psychological suspense. ( )

I expected too much from this edition after I saw that it was listed as "Illustrated." I had just finished reading Domenico Starnone's "Trick" in which a senior-aged illustrator is himself actually working on illustrations for "The Jolly Corner" (1908) while revisiting his own childhood home in order to babysit his grandson.

Unfortunately the illustrations in this specific edition of "The Jolly Corner" are mostly a random selection of landscape paintings that have nothing to do with the actual story. The story itself is rather obscure and primarily in an experimental stream of consciousness style (it is late Henry James) and it isn't that impactful.

There was a nice unadvertised bonus though with the addition of Thomas Hardy's short story "The Three Strangers" (1883) which didn't seem to have anything in common with the Henry James. ( )

I read this for a Tales from the Crypt reading challenge. I was expecting a ghost story of the same ilk as The Turn of the Screw. I was sorely disappointed. The story had some interesting ideas - the fetishisation of the past, the potential for alternative worlds to exist where the opposite of our actual decisions take alternative versions of ourselves down different paths, the possibility that what we think is happening is actually the reverse. Ultimately, the story didn't work as either ghost story or psychological thriller for me. It was too cautious. The suspense didn't build. I wasn't immersed in Spencer Brydon's world enough to believe anything more than self indulgent imagining was happening, or that Brydon's experiences were anything other than a mental breakdown in the face of regret for the life he has lived.

I think my expectations were too high, but the story has stayed with me. The quality of James's writing is as rich as ever and, viewed not as a ghost story but as a love story, it is a good read. I just wanted it to be spooky! ( )

Ironic title in that there was nothing remotely "jolly" about the story. A nothing story ... it was all psychological and boring as hell. ( )

"I've followed strange paths and worshipped strange gods." ( )