/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.21254761]

>Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. There are circumstances in which, whether you partake of the tea or not—some people of course never do,—the situation is in itself delightful. Those that I have in mind in beginning to unfold this simple history offered an admirable setting to an innocent pastime. The implements of the little feast had been disposed upon the lawn of an old English country-house, in what I should call the perfect middle of a splendid summer afternoon. Part of the afternoon had waned, but much of it was left, and what was left was of the finest and rarest quality. Real dusk would not arrive for many hours; but the flood of summer light had begun to ebb, the air had grown mellow, the shadows were long upon the smooth, dense turf. They lengthened slowly, however, and the scene expressed that sense of leisure still to come which is perhaps the chief source of one’s enjoyment of such a scene at such an hour. From five o’clock to eight is on certain occasions a little eternity; but on such an occasion as this the interval could be only an eternity of pleasure. The persons concerned in it were taking their pleasure quietly, and they were not of the sex which is supposed to furnish the regular votaries of the ceremony I have mentioned. The shadows on the perfect lawn were straight and angular; they were the shadows of an old man sitting in a deep wicker-chair near the low table on which the tea had been served, and of two younger men strolling to and fro, in desultory talk, in front of him. The old man had his cup in his hand; it was an unusually large cup, of a different pattern from the rest of the set and painted in brilliant colours. He disposed of its contents with much circumspection, holding it for a long time close to his chin, with his face turned to the house. His companions had either finished their tea or were indifferent to their privilege; they smoked cigarettes as they continued to stroll. One of them, from time to time, as he passed, looked with a certain attention at the elder man, who, unconscious of observation, rested his eyes upon the rich red front of his dwelling. The house that rose beyond the lawn was a structure to repay such consideration and was the most characteristic object in the peculiarly English picture I have attempted to sketch.

[Anonymous No.21254764]

this guy writes like how i padded my papers

[Anonymous No.21255836]

This is what they threw away in a disdainful gesture for the right of gay buttsex, barely legal teen and interracial.

[Anonymous No.21255950]

>>21254761
Genuine question, is that supposed to be bad?
It doesn't read 'pleasantly' and I usually have to start over and read many sentences twice, but I've enjoyed every single James novella I've read.
On the other hand I haven't tried Portrait or any other of his longer works yet

[Anonymous No.21255963]

> The father caught his son’s eye at last and gave him a mild, responsive smile.

>“I’m getting on very well,” he said.

>“Have you drunk your tea?” asked the son.

>“Yes, and enjoyed it.”

>“Shall I give you some more?”

>The old man considered, placidly. “Well, I guess I’ll wait and see.” He had, in speaking, the American tone.

>“Are you cold?” the son enquired.

>The father slowly rubbed his legs. “Well, I don’t know. I can’t tell till I feel.”

>“Perhaps some one might feel for you,” said the younger man, laughing.

[Anonymous No.21255967]

>>21254761
Read this thread yesterday. It was great.

[Anonymous No.21256018]

>>/lit/thread/S19641675#p19648321
>Here's why it's good: good use of copia verborum, clause structure is varied and keeps the reader interested, excellent use of suspension, balanced use of circumlocution, repetitions always add to the scene, the narratio follows the prescriptions of Quintilian while maintaining good English grammar and idiom, the reader's eye is directed over the scene so it seems like the image is really unfolding before you. This is masterful prose and you haven't even picked an exemplary passage. You're either esl or just haven't read much prose at a level above Stephen King and J K Rowling.

[Anonymous No.21256027]

>>21254764
You don’t write.