17 September 1897: What Maisie Knew by Henry James is published

What Maisie Knew, published on 17 September 1897, is one of Henry James’ most penetrating explorations of human consciousness, childhood innocence, and the disintegration of family bonds. Written during a period when James was deeply fascinated by the inner lives of children, the novel traces the emotional and moral growth of Maisie Farange, the young daughter of divorced parents. Caught in the crossfire of adult bitterness, Maisie becomes a pawn in her parents’ cruel games—a “little feathered shuttlecock” batted between them and their subsequent lovers.

Narrated from a child’s limited perspective, this book is both subtle and devastating. Observing and uncannily wise, Maisie must make sense of a world riddled with adult betrayal, vanity, and shifting loyalties. James crafts a rich portrait of a young girl adrift in an emotionally careless society, forced to grow up too soon and ultimately to choose between competing guardians. In What Maisie Knew, a child’s limited understanding mirrors the moral murkiness of the adult world where truth is elusive and emotional neglect is commonplace.

As with much of James’ later work, the narrative is layered and indirect, challenging a reader to navigate the same moral uncertainties that confront Maisie. Though not universally praised on its release, What Maisie Knew has come to be regarded as a powerful study in psychological depth and narrative innovation.

In 2012, a drama film, What Maisie Knew, Starring Julianne Moore, was produced and received generally positive reviews from critics.

Henry James was a prolific author. His most well-known works include The Portrait of a Lady, The Turn of the Screw, and The Wings of the Dove. His fiction is considered important transitory work between literary realism and literary modernism.