Henry James : souvenirs vénitiens et variations

Abstract

No doubt that the first impression of Venice wasn’t a pleasant discovery for the young Henry James in September 1869. Meanwhile, the American author will return several times and will give the Italian town a major place in many works. By considering the repetitions in his novels and short stories in relation to other writings from his correspondence, we will examine how Venice is described as a myth for the travelling writers from the end of the nineteenth century and as a “laboratory” which allows James to transfigure the reality while modulating his memories.