The Princess Casamassima
Henry James
Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Princess Casamassima can be read on several levels: first, as a political and social novel, exploring the anarchistic and revolutionary underground of London in the 1880s; secondly as a psychological study of such a movement on a young man (the protagonist, Hyacinth Robinson) who may or may not be descended from the aristocracy, but whose artistic nature shines out in the midst of the London slums; and thirdly, as an examination of the conundrum whether the world of art and culture is necessarily built on the abject poverty of others. The Princess herself started as the beautiful and intelligent American Christina Light in James’s Roderick Hudson but has now come to London to escape the Neapolitan prince to whom she is unhappily married. Yet she and Robinson are only two of a larger set of characters whose commitment to an imagined revolutionary cause may be sincere or many be questionable. As is usual with Henry James, readers will have to make their own judgements. (Nicholas Clifford) (21 hr 34 min)
Chapters
| Book First Chapter 01 | 28:26 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 02 | 30:50 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 03 | 30:22 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 04 | 28:57 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 05 | 31:15 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 06 | 21:36 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 07 | 27:10 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 08 | 24:18 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 09 | 24:26 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 10 | 22:52 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book First Chapter 11 | 30:29 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 12 | 31:47 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 13 | 36:45 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 14 | 26:45 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 15 | 42:38 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 16 | 27:02 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 17 | 29:10 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 18 | 14:51 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 19 | 16:37 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 20 | 31:03 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Second Chapter 21 | 42:52 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 22 | 40:33 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 23 | 28:11 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 24 | 30:03 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 25 | 23:07 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 26 | 14:58 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 27 | 26:18 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Third Chapter 28 | 26:52 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 29 | 25:30 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 30 | 22:49 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 31 | 19:58 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 32 | 26:06 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 33 | 24:03 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 34 | 20:43 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 35 | 28:47 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 36 | 22:18 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fourth Chapter 37 | 32:06 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 38 | 40:44 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 39 | 37:42 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 40 | 36:28 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 41 | 35:36 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 42 | 17:50 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 43 | 19:52 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 44 | 32:12 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 45 | 22:14 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 46 | 16:27 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| Book Fifth Chapter 47 | 22:42 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
Reviews
af042
Great reader and book. I understand why some reviewers dissed the book—you have to be able to handle Henry James—but actually this one is simpler and more explicit than most of his novels.
Susan
Not so out of date as one would assume. The same class struggles and personal assumptions about the end of civilization apply right now!
Great book, great reader
Peter S
Thank you very much indeed
A Surprising Enchanting Story!
jenniebrown
Professor Clifford was born to read Henry James! The Princess Cassmassima is one of James’ most popular books and deservedly so. I thank you LibriVox for giving it to us. Professor Clifford I miss you and you are a great loss to the world and most importantly to us
Ruined by...
jbrown
...a review from another website! I was enjoying this book and reached chapter 8 when I ran across several reviews of this book. One of the reviewers gave away the ending without a spoiler alert. I just can’t stay engrossed knowing what is to come. Such a shame!
Stars for the reader only.
KAB
I do not understand this story: why it's title, when it's really about Hyacinth? Why did he do what he did in the end? The reader is excellent, of course, but the story itself confuses me.
Huh?
Whitney Blake
brilliant read...thank you.. What flight of insanity is this long, stultifying novel from James?
unusual and strange book, with inexplicable actions os some characters
arwei