tea break: sweet summer with henry james

~ jama

 
                
                      
                     “The Cup of Tea,” by Mary Cassatt (1879)

Need a break? You’ve come to the right place.

Whether it’s morning or afternoon where you are, take a few moments to read this lovely opening from Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady. I haven’t read this novel since college, but now I want to read it again. The Portrait is one of James’ transatlantic novels — he liked to contrast the decadence of Europeans with the brash energy of Americans.

Sit back and relax. I’ve poured you the perfect cup of Lady Grey in a fine bone china cup and saucer. Let James’ unhurried prose quiet your mind and transport you to the 19th century:

         

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. ~ Opening from The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James (1881)

Speaking of afternoon tea, we owe its invention to Anna, 7th Duchess of Bedford (1783-1857). Seems she experienced that sinking feeling in late afternoon; only two meals were served then — a breakfast of ale, bread and beef, and a long, massive dinner at around 9 p.m. One afternoon in 1840, she plucked up the courage to send for a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake, which was secretly consumed in her boudoir behind a screen. She soon became addicted to this indulgence, but rather than give it up, she invited her friends to join her for tea at Belvoir Castle.

In no time at all, anyone who was anyone in high society was hosting afternoon tea in the drawing rooms of stately homes, with the practice becoming more and more elaborate —  ladies wearing long tea gowns, and every manner of tea accoutrement (caddies, muffineers, cake stands, bone china tea services) being wheeled out with a vast array of little cakes, thin sandwiches, and dazzling sweets for the sweet. By Edwardian times, afternoon tea had become a full-blown social occasion with musicians, hot dishes, and footmen handing round the teacups and pouring from ornately carved silver teapots. The conversation was kept ever so polite; the fashionable hour was set at 5 p.m.

I imagine Mr. James was grateful to the Duchess. If she hadn’t gotten the munchies at 4 p.m., how would he have written his opening scene?

                                                
A FEW MORE BISCUITS:
 
The Portrait of a Lady first appeared in serial form in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan’s Magazine, between 1880-81. 

This realistic novel remains the most popular of James’ longer works, a prime example of his “beautiful prose,” and imaginary use of interior monologue, unrealiable narrator, and point of view. 

In this novel, Isabel Archer, a young American woman who suddenly inherits a fortune, is victimized by two American expatriates. 

The Portrait of a Lady (Thrift Edition)Henry James: A Life

Leon Edel is considered THE Henry James biographer, having received a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1963 for Volumes 2 and 3 of his five-volume masterpiece, Henry James: A Biography (not pictured here.) This work is a seminal example of the great American literary biography. I had the distinct honor of taking a seminar in research methods from Professor Edel at the University of Hawai’i. He was beyond awesome!

                                   

“The British have an umbilical cord which has never been cut and through which tea flows constantly. It is curious to watch them in times of sudden horror, tragedy or disaster. The pulse stops apparently, and nothing can be done, and no move made, until a ‘nice cup of tea’ is quickly made. There is no question that it brings solace and does steady the mind. What a pity all countries are not so tea-conscious. World peace conferences would run more smoothly if a ‘nice cup of tea’, or indeed, a samovar were available at the proper time.” ~ Marlene Dietrich

20 thoughts on “tea break: sweet summer with henry james”

  1. Jama, thanks again for your kind words yesterday. And it was wonderful to be greeted this morning by Cassatt’s lady in pink and a bit (enough for me) of Henry James. I hadn’t realized Portrait had first appeared in serial form. Perfect bites with tea.

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  7. Lady Grey is a lighter version of Earl Grey, flavored with orange and lemon peel and bergamot. It was named after Mary Elizabeth Grey, wife of Charles, for whom Earl Grey was named.
    Earl Grey is an excellent choice. I recently found out that it’s Lois Lowry’s favorite!

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  9. Eleanor’s back for tea! She brought along Emily who brought some fresh spring cut lilacs.
    If I had a million hours and every day was a tea party, I’d render a tea party series! EVERYBODY! Dylan, the Beatles, Marilyn, Poe, Billie, Jessica — EVERYBODY drinking tea! Now, wouldn’t that be FUN!

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  10. Absolutely! It’s what I said a couple weeks ago. Famous people drinking tea! Of course only some of them would have their pinky in their air — Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, George Michael . . . the possibilities are endless!
    Love Emily and her lilacs.

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  11. Emily and her Lilacs
    thank you.
    That was one of the first pieces I did where I allowed the PHOTO to come through so clearly. The original photo was one my wife took in our kitchen. (the lace curtained-window is in our kitchen too). I just loved the flowers, so I colorized with pencil more than re-render or such.
    Bigger image here:
    http://www.kslatts.com/emspring_01_.html

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  12. Re: Emily and her Lilacs
    “A light exists in spring” is just perfect for this picture. Do you know if Emily was left handed? Did she bequeath her pearls and dress to Eleanor :)?

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  13. Did she bequeath her pearls and dress to Eleanor?
    Though in the world of real-time chronological, it would be impossible. In slattsville, ANYTHING is possible! And it happened “the other way.”
    At that time, I had started to cross that line of stealing from myself. Images and ideas would come so fast, they required quick solutions like: “If you wouldn’t mind, Eleanor, Emily would like to borrow your pearls, tea cup and party dress.”
    Fortunately, for all concerned, I rethought my original Jack Daniels’ influenced idea of giving Emily Bonnie Raitt’s Fender Startocaster!
    you opened the door…. ;-D

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  14. Re: Did she bequeath her pearls and dress to Eleanor?
    Boy, Emily would have rocked the attic right out of Amherst! But on second thought, why not? She’s given everyone “somethin’ to talk about” for centuries now . . . not bad for a recluse.

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  15. “somethin’ to talk about”
    I think Em had a pretty good slide to her blues as well…
    “Tell it slant” as she would instruct her band!

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  16. Another great post, Jama! I appreciate how you take the time to write them.
    Funny, I mentioned afternoon tea in my post yesterday. What a great tradition!

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  17. Yes, I did read and enjoy your post yesterday! One can’t remain lugubrious for long after having tea 🙂 . . . but it’s just the type of word that would crop up in a la-di-dah tea at the Ritz or something.

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  18. Re: “somethin’ to talk about”
    I sometimes use ART as procrastination.
    I have some “assignments.” They’re self-imposed. If money or true-commitment was involved, I wouldn’t be this fool-hardy.
    Anyhow, our conversation string never quite left me last night. I thought about Tea. I thought about Capote. Wilde. And then, Emily. And her guitar. There was no Jack Daniels involved. In fact, I was stone-cold sober. Not a drop of “influence.”
    But Emily now has a guitar.
    Not Bonnie’s Fender. But rather my Gibson. (You could say Emily’s a “Gibson Girl”)
    Stay tuned. I could finish it tonight and post soon thereafter.
    Now, I think the idea of a coffee shop or a tea room or a bar & grille where creatives could hang out and get inspired and all would be like Heaven on Earth. And I mean a real place. But until that happens, I guess this cyber-place will do.
    So, Thanks, Jama, for tea and conversation yesterday. May you be so inspired!

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  19. Re: “somethin’ to talk about”
    Yeah, a Gibson Girl. New meaning there. Emily’s really breaking out of her shell. I like the contrast between the perceived proper New England woman and a contemporary rock image.
    Same thing occurs to me when I picture Keith Richards drinking a cup of tea. He looks like a truck ran over him most of the time, yet I bet he also has to have his tea every day. Even hardened druggie types need their civilized cuppa. It’s the great equalizer.
    Am looking forward to seeing what you’ve done to Emily!

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  20. That’s gunna be some Tea Party!
    You just keep loading them up! Dropping more names to add to the guest list….
    Oscar Wilde
    Truman Capote
    Eleanor Roosevelt
    Emily Dickinson
    George Harrison
    John Lennon
    and now…Keith Richards!

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