The Author of Beltraffio

Exploring the complexities of personal relationships, this narrative delves into the life of a novelist whose rigid Calvinistic wife disapproves of his work, fearing it will corrupt their son. The story begins with the narrator's anxious anticipation of meeting the author, revealing his feelings of youth and ignorance, and his desire to savor the experience. Through this encounter, themes of artistic integrity, societal expectations, and the tension between creativity and moral constraints unfold, reflecting Henry James's mastery in portraying consciousness and perception.