The Soft Side

Three of these twelve stories have to do with ghosts - but not in a way to evoke horror. In fact The Third Person ends up being quite the most comical of the lot. Four highlight various problems attending approaches to marriage. The most tragic, The Abasement of the Northmores tells of a widow of an excellent but unsung public servant, Warren Hope, and her unavailing efforts to do justice to his memory. The Great Good Place is James' lament at how the myriad demands on his time and talents could almost crush him. In all these James shows his great ability to portray and dramatise people so a reader can feel he has widened his human acquaintance and sympathies.