In this clear, persuasive study of James's widely successful novella, Fogel (Louisiana State University) reviews historical context and critical response from the 1870s to the present, and then--most usefully--offers his own well-informed "reading" of the novel. It is his thesis that Daisy Miller "forces us to yoke together comedy and tragedy, sentimentality and irony, realism and mythmaking"; and that it should be understood as a "dark comedy of manners" (rather than a tragedy or tragicomedy) because none of its characters can"overcome the environmental determinism that finally makes it impossible for Daisy and Winterbourne to meet each other halfway." This position is argued carefully, and the implications of structure, tone, and narrative technique are clearly and thoroughly discussed. Appropriate for all levels, but especially useful for beginning students of James. -J. J. Benardete, Hunter College, CUNY

James's brief 1858 classic is here presented as a no-frills edition in Dover's Thrift series. Since the text is a staple in many high school and college literature curricula, Dover provides a painless, inexpensive way of stocking multiple copies. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.