Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Brooksmith

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Language
  
English

Author
  
Henry James

Country
  
United Kingdom

Originally published
  
1 January 1909

Genre
  
Short story

Publication type
  
Book

Brooksmith dolmv3q9e9skhcloudfrontnetproductImageskugui

Published in
  
The Lesson of the Master

Similar
  
Henry James books, Classical Studies books

Brooksmith by henry james


"Brooksmith" is a short story written by Henry James in 1891. The story is also present in a compilation of 50 Great Short Stories by Milton Crane

Contents

Brooksmith by henry james romance full audiobook


Plot

The narrator tells the story of Brooksmith, a butler he had once known. Brooksmith was responsible for the preservation of the atmosphere in a retired diplomat's salon where the guests (all male) enjoyed a high level of intellectual conversation with the diplomat and each other. Brooksmith was regarded by the narrator as "the artist" who insured that the company at each gathering was the optimum number and mix of personalities to provide the highest level of conversation possible. This was partially of benefit to Brooksmith himself, who would linger in the room on some pretext or other in order to eavesdrop on the exchanges. The diplomat was well aware of this, and alluded to it on occasion with dryly humorous remarks. With the diplomat's death, Brooksmith loses his vocation, which to him was almost a calling. Brooksmith, lonely and dispirited, works a few odd jobs but falls into poverty and illness. At the end of the story, the narrator reveals that Brooksmith had disappeared, and implies that he may have committed suicide.

References

Brooksmith Wikipedia