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Book Review By Suze
Washington Square by Henry James

Washington Square describes the adult life of Catherine Sloper, daughter of a wealthy, intense, intelligent and sarcastic father and a brilliantly beautiful mother who died soon after childbirth. She is raised by her father and his sister, a meddling and overly romantic widow. Unfortunately for Catherine, she is neither clever nor beautiful and her father notes this, but little else about her.

The setting, 19th Century New York, finds Catherine unmarried by the age of 22 - approaching old maid-hood for that era. Her life is brightened by a young interloper named Moriss Townsend, who endears himself to her because he is charmed by her future prospescts of immense wealth.

Dr. Sloper takes an almost immediate dislike to Mr. Townsend and forbids his daughter to marry, informing her she will be disinherited of her money should she go against his wishes. This idea diminishes her charm for Mr. Townsend. When he breaks off their engagement in a cruel way, Dr. Sloper finds out and he gloats.

The last portion of the book follows Catherine's independent life as a spinster. Her Aunt, in a cruel twist, introduces Mr. Townsend back into Catherine's life during their middle age.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Difficult/unusual lover? Yes
How difficult?
If one lover chases another... - they alternate
Matchbreaker Yes
Matchbreaker is - Dad

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's

Main Female Character - 20's-30's
Profession/status:

Setting
United States Yes
City? Yes
City: - New York

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
What % of story is romance related? - 90%
Focus of story - Her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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