Resumen de La edad difícil

Para quién es

You will love this book if you enjoy sharp conversation, social comedy and characters revealed through what they say, and if you wonder how young people enter a grown-up world.

De qué trata este libro

Why does one girl's first evening in the drawing room cause a crisis? In The Awkward Age, Nanda Brookenham is about eighteen, and she must now sit downstairs with her mother's brilliant friends. They say anything at all. Her arrival forces them to choose between their freedom and her innocence.

Henry James wrote this novel in 1898 and 1899. He tells it almost wholly in dialogue, like the acts of a play. You learn people by what they say, what they dodge and who they flatter.

Questions about La edad difícil

What is The Awkward Age about?

It follows Nanda Brookenham, who joins her mother's witty London circle at about eighteen. Her presence changes how people talk. An old friend of her grandmother, Mr. Longdon, tries to secure her future, while others pursue their own plans.

What does the title The Awkward Age mean?

It names the stage when a girl is no longer a child but not yet married. In the book, that moment is awkward because grown-up conversation must now include an innocent listener.

Why is the book written almost entirely as dialogue?

James modeled each scene on the act of a play. People are shown only through what they say and do, with no explaining from inside their minds, so you listen closely and judge for yourself.

Who is Mr. Longdon and why does he matter?

He is an elderly gentleman from Suffolk who loved Nanda's grandmother, Lady Julia. He sees her again in Nanda, and his wish to protect the girl drives much of the story.

When was The Awkward Age written and is it worth reading?

It was written in 1898 and appeared in Harper's Weekly. It rewards readers who enjoy witty talk, vivid personalities and a close look at how families and friends bargain with one another.