Beirinckx Lise


English: Boekbespreking


Book: Daisy Miller by Henry James

Mr. Winterbourne, an American young man, is on holiday in Vevey, a little town left Geneva, with his aunt, Mrs. Costello. At the hotel, Mr. Winterbourne meets a young girl. He finds her a nice girl and during his vacation, he is always with her. His aunt knows who she is and finds her horrible, but Mr. Winterbourne stays always with Daisy.

Than, he lefts Vevey for his work and the family of Daisy Miller go to Rome. Mrs. Costello is also in Rome and writes a letter to her cousin that miss Miller has a new gentleman friend . Winterbourne reads the letter of his aunt and goes to Rome. There, he mets Daisy again, and yes, she has a new friend, an Italian boy, Mr. Giovanelli. Winterbourne thinks that she loves Giovanelli and he thinks that she wants to married Giovanelli. Winterbourne is jealous, but during a party, Daisy tells him that it was only a flirt with Winterbourne.

Winterbourne mets Daisy a couple of times in Rome and always walks Mr. Giova-nelli beside her. Winterbourne want to explain to her that he loves her but Daisy find him to stiff and stays with Mr. Giovanelli.

Than, Daisy is ill. Winterbourne heards it and goes to Daisy. Her mother tells him that it is serious, but she has got a message from Daisy to him. Daisy want to tell him that it was also a flirt with Giovanelli, and she didn’t love him anymore.

One week after his visit, the poor girl died. On the funeral, Winterbourne mets Giovanelli and has a conversation with him. Giovanelli found her the most beautiful and most amiable young girl he ever saw. Than Winterbouren asks:”And the most innocent?”

A few days later, Wintebourne has a conversation with his aunt and says: “ You was right, Daisy Miller was a mistake.”