The Jolly Corner
Encyclopedia
"The Jolly Corner" is a short story
by Henry James
published first in the magazine The English Review
of December, 1908. One of James' most noted ghost stories
, "The Jolly Corner" describes the adventures of Spencer Brydon as he prowls the now-empty New York
house where he grew up.
He encounters a "sensation more complex than had ever before found itself consistent with sanity."
man if he hadn't forsaken moneymaking for a more leisurely life. He discusses this possibility with Alice Staverton, his woman friend who has always lived in New York.
Meanwhile Brydon begins to believe that his alter ego—the ghost of the man he might have been—is haunting the "jolly corner", his nickname for the old family house. After a harrowing night of pursuit in the house, Brydon finally confronts the ghost
, who advances on him and overpowers him with "a rage of personality before which his own collapsed." Brydon eventually awakens with his head pillowed on Alice Staverton's lap. It is arguable whether or not Spencer had actually become unconscious or whether he had died and has awoken in an afterlife. She had come to the house because she sensed he was in danger. She tells him that she pities the ghost of his alter ego, who has suffered and lost two fingers from his right hand. But she also embraces and accepts Brydon as he is.
poem, "The Road Not Taken".
Attempts have been made to relate the story to Henry James' own life. Certainly there are some parallels between the expatriate Brydon and the expatriate James. But too close an identification probably lessens rather than enhances the story's significance. In particular, likening the ghost's two lost fingers with the "obscure hurt" that James experienced during his late teens may well be too reductive and simplistic.
s have almost unanimously agreed that "The Jolly Corner" is James' finest ghost story after only The Turn of the Screw
. The story combines an interesting theme and suspenseful narration.
Critics have disagreed on whether Brydon will profit from his supernatural experience, or will only resume his rather selfish and non-contemplative existence. The more optimistic commentators believe that Brydon will have a more mature and perceptive life, especially with the help of Alice Staverton's unselfish love. James said that the idea for "The Jolly Corner" came to him suddenly and kept him awake all night. He wrote the story soon afterward and it seemed to him "a miraculous masterpiece."
as Spencer Brydon and Salome Jens
as Alice Staverton.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Henry James
Henry James
Henry James, OM was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He was the son of Henry James, Sr., a clergyman, and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James....
published first in the magazine The English Review
The English Review
The English Review was an English-language literary magazine published in London from 1908 to 1937. At its peak, the journal published some of the leading writers of its day.-History:...
of December, 1908. One of James' most noted ghost stories
Ghost story
A ghost story may be any piece of fiction, or drama, or an account of an experience, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them. Colloquially, the term can refer to any kind of scary story. In a narrower sense, the ghost story has...
, "The Jolly Corner" describes the adventures of Spencer Brydon as he prowls the now-empty New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
house where he grew up.
He encounters a "sensation more complex than had ever before found itself consistent with sanity."
Plot summary
Spencer Brydon returns to New York City after more than thirty years abroad. He has agreed to have his old family house demolished in favor of a more lucrative apartment building. Before the wreckers begin, he starts to prowl the house at night. Brydon has begun to realize that he might have been an astute businessBusiness
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man if he hadn't forsaken moneymaking for a more leisurely life. He discusses this possibility with Alice Staverton, his woman friend who has always lived in New York.
Meanwhile Brydon begins to believe that his alter ego—the ghost of the man he might have been—is haunting the "jolly corner", his nickname for the old family house. After a harrowing night of pursuit in the house, Brydon finally confronts the ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
, who advances on him and overpowers him with "a rage of personality before which his own collapsed." Brydon eventually awakens with his head pillowed on Alice Staverton's lap. It is arguable whether or not Spencer had actually become unconscious or whether he had died and has awoken in an afterlife. She had come to the house because she sensed he was in danger. She tells him that she pities the ghost of his alter ego, who has suffered and lost two fingers from his right hand. But she also embraces and accepts Brydon as he is.
Key themes
This story treats a theme of nearly universal interest: the "unlived life," the life a person might have had but didn't. In fact, "The Jolly Corner" is a dramatic version of the Robert FrostRobert Frost
Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and...
poem, "The Road Not Taken".
Attempts have been made to relate the story to Henry James' own life. Certainly there are some parallels between the expatriate Brydon and the expatriate James. But too close an identification probably lessens rather than enhances the story's significance. In particular, likening the ghost's two lost fingers with the "obscure hurt" that James experienced during his late teens may well be too reductive and simplistic.
Critical evaluation
CriticCritic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
s have almost unanimously agreed that "The Jolly Corner" is James' finest ghost story after only The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw is a novella written by Henry James. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story.Due to its ambiguous content, it became a favourite text of academics who subscribe to New Criticism. The novella has had differing interpretations, often mutually exclusive...
. The story combines an interesting theme and suspenseful narration.
Critics have disagreed on whether Brydon will profit from his supernatural experience, or will only resume his rather selfish and non-contemplative existence. The more optimistic commentators believe that Brydon will have a more mature and perceptive life, especially with the help of Alice Staverton's unselfish love. James said that the idea for "The Jolly Corner" came to him suddenly and kept him awake all night. He wrote the story soon afterward and it seemed to him "a miraculous masterpiece."
Derivative work
A television version of the story was produced during 1975 with Fritz WeaverFritz Weaver
Fritz William Weaver is an American actor and voice actor.-Life and career:Weaver was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Elsa W. and John Carson Weaver. His mother was of Italian descent and his father was a social worker from Pittsburgh. Weaver attended Peabody High School...
as Spencer Brydon and Salome Jens
Salome Jens
Salome Jens is an American stage, film and television actress. She is perhaps best-known for portraying the Female Changeling on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Life and career:...
as Alice Staverton.
External links
- The New York Edition text of "The Jolly Corner", with the author's preface (1909)
- Note on the texts of "The Jolly Corner" at the Library of AmericaLibrary of AmericaThe Library of America is a nonprofit publisher of classic American literature.- Overview and history :Founded in 1979 with seed money from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Ford Foundation, the LoA has published over 200 volumes by a wide range of authors from Mark Twain to Philip...
web site - IMDb page for the television version of The Jolly Corner (1975)