Category Archives: literature

RKS Literature: Pretty, Undefended and Natural Daisy Miller (Henry James)

“Winterbourne was not pleased with what he had heard: but when, coming out upon the great steps of the church, he saw Daisy, who had emerged before him, get into an open cab with her accomplice and roll away through the cynical streets of Rome, he could not deny himself that she was going veryContinue reading “RKS Literature: Pretty, Undefended and Natural Daisy Miller (Henry James)”

RKS Literature: Pretty, Undefended and Natural Daisy Miller (Henry James)

“Winterbourne was not pleased with what he had heard: but when, coming out upon the great steps of the church, he saw Daisy, who had emerged before him, get into an open cab with her accomplice and roll away through the cynical streets of Rome, he could not deny himself that she was going veryContinue reading “RKS Literature: Pretty, Undefended and Natural Daisy Miller (Henry James)”

RKS Literature: Low-Minded Menials Talking About Daisy Miller (Henry James)

Winterbourne-to do him justice- as it were- mentioned to no one that he had encountered Miss Miller, at midnight, in the Coliseum with a gentleman; but nevertheless, a couple of days later, the fact of her being there under these circumstances was known to every member of the little American circle, and commented accordingly. WinterbourneContinue reading “RKS Literature: Low-Minded Menials Talking About Daisy Miller (Henry James)”

RKS Japanese Literature: Tomada’s Increasing Intoxication and Infatuation with the West (Tanizaki Jun’Ichiro)

‘My infatuation and intoxication grew deeper with every mile we travelled. When I reached Paris I threw myself wholeheartedly into a life of decadence. The bashful Oriental mind can hardly imagine the things I found there. Paris was a whirlpool of lust and desire-a dizzying vortex of excess, debauchery and sick perversions. It’s everything I’dContinue reading “RKS Japanese Literature: Tomada’s Increasing Intoxication and Infatuation with the West (Tanizaki Jun’Ichiro)”

RKS Japanese Literature: The Failure of Orientals to Deal With a Full Dose of Excitement (Tanizaki Jun’Ichiro)

‘Subtle they call it. Suggestive. Refined. What a lot of nonsense. It’s a question of aptitude. Orientals just can’t deal with a full dose of excitement. Take singing. Here in the East, no one would dream of really opening up and belting out the loudest voice they can produce. It’s more refined you see toContinue reading “RKS Japanese Literature: The Failure of Orientals to Deal With a Full Dose of Excitement (Tanizaki Jun’Ichiro)”

RKS Japanese Literature: Tomoda Begins to Reject Japanese Culture (Tanizaki Jun’Ichiro)

‘A friend during my student days in Yokohama was another bad influence. He took me to Yokohama a couple of times, where I entered a dream world that few Japanese in those days had seen. It was my first glimpse into the world of the white man’s pleasures. From that moment, I had nothing butContinue reading “RKS Japanese Literature: Tomoda Begins to Reject Japanese Culture (Tanizaki Jun’Ichiro)”

RKS Literature: The Omnipresent Fortune Hunter Giovanelli Sticks to Daisy Miller Like Glue (Henry James)

‘Who is Giovanelli?’ ‘The little Italian. I have asked questions about him and learned something. He is apparently a perfectly respectable little man. I believe in a small way he is in a small way a cavaliere avvocato but he doesn’t move in what are called the first circles. If she thinks him the finestContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Omnipresent Fortune Hunter Giovanelli Sticks to Daisy Miller Like Glue (Henry James)”

RKS Literature: All Women are Fearful and Frightful Flirts (Henry James)

‘I’m a fearful, frightful flirt! Did you never hear of a nice girl that was not? But I suppose you will tell me now that I am not a nice girl.’ ‘You’re a very nice girl, but I wish you would flirt with me, and me only,’ said Winterbourne. ‘Ah! Thank you, thank you veryContinue reading “RKS Literature: All Women are Fearful and Frightful Flirts (Henry James)”

RKS Literature: Wealthy American Mrs. Walker Collects European Specimens (Henry James)

“Mrs. Walker was one of those American ladies who, while residing abroad, make a point, in their own phrase, of studying European society; and as she had on this occasion collected several specimens of her diversely-born fellow-mortals to serve, as it were, as text-books.” Henry James, “Daisy Miller”, 1878.

RKS Literature: Daisy Miller Positively Scandalous in Rome (Henry James)

‘It has happened very well,’ said Mrs. Walker. “If she is so perfectly determined to compromise herself, the sooner one knows it the better; one can act accordingly.’ ‘I suspect she meant no harm,’ Winterbourne rejoined. ‘So I thought a month ago. But she has been going too far.’ ‘What has she been doing?’ ‘EverythingContinue reading “RKS Literature: Daisy Miller Positively Scandalous in Rome (Henry James)”