An “Entirely Personal” Success: Intertextuality and Self-Reflexive Ironies in Henry James’s “Pandora”

Henry James’s self-allusions in “Pandora” have been read as a rewriting of his former treatment the “American Girl abroad” comic mode. The hints at “a Tauchnitz novel by an American author” (90) establish ironical reversal failures understanding which had led to tragedy “Daisy Miller.” Yet ironies are multi-layered, often self-reflexive, and can be further interpreted light controversial adaptation famous novella for stage. In this framework, well-known Jamesian topoi appear both (self-)parody metaliterary dialogue James engages with readers critics. author’s personal implication “American” story is testified Notebooks, states intention write about friends “Clover” Adams. Indeed, “Pandora”’s multi-layered intertextuality includes undeclared references Adams’s anonymously published novel, Democracy, semi-satirical account U.S. political life. My article focuses on web intertextual relations woven short view reflecting ideas concerning politics authorship, readership, literary success, fate Girl.