Four Meetings

"Four Meetings" by Henry James is a novella written in the late 19th century. This literary work revolves around the themes of perception, beauty, and the nuanced interactions between individuals. The story is structured around four encounters between the narrator and a woman named Caroline Spencer, exploring their deep yet complicated connection against the backdrop of American society and its ideals. The narrative begins with the narrator's recollection of a snowy tea party, where he first meets Caroline, who captivates him through her charm and artistic sensibilities. As subsequent meetings unfold, including one in Paris where they discuss aspirations and dreams, Caroline's character is revealed as both naive and deeply sentimental. However, as her journey progresses, she encounters challenges, particularly with her cousin, revealing themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and disillusionment. Ultimately, the novella illustrates Caroline's choices and her transition from a hopeful dreamer to a more subdued and resigned figure, reflecting on the complexities of human relationships and the often harsh realities of life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Henry James was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the son of Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James.