3/8/2009
Think of Maria Gostrey of The Ambassadors, who seduces Strether into a state in which he attains integrated knowledge of himself and the world. She's the one who knows. HJ said he borrowed her from French theater as a dramatic device to take the place of the omniscient narrative blowhard (think of practically any novel written before 1895 or so). She's the reader's confidant, as well as Strether's. I fell in love with her 40 years ago. She's been the model for a few of the deepest and most satisfying friendships I've ever had.
What was that? Didn't read The Ambassadors? Hmm. Get busy. You can't imagine what you're missing.
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