Henry James - Daisy Miller |
Summary

The novel is divided into two parts: the first one takes place in Vevey, Switzerland, the second one takes place in Rome.

The narrator introduces the city of Vevey in a very positive way, saying that it has the « characteristices of an American watering place ». The plot is set « two or three years ago » during a summer morning, and the reader soon discovers the main character, Winterbourne, who has come to visit his aunt. This 27 years old young man is sitting in the 3 couronnes hotel's garden, looking about him. Of his life, we know that he is American but that has been living in Geneva since he was a boy, and that he is universally liked. He suddenly meets a young boy of about 9 or 10 years old named Randolph, and gives him some sugar. While they talk, Randolph's sister, who is described as a « beautiful young lady » arrives. Winterbourne is cautious when he meets her, on her side she doesn't pay attention to him and looks « neither offended nor flattered ». We are acknowledged that they come from Schenectady, New York, where their father still lives, and after a little conversation Daisy Miller talks to Winterbourne as if « she had known him a long time ». To her the only negative point in Europe is the lack of society. She says she was very well liked and popular in New York, the young man is seduced and he describes her as a « pretty American flirt ». After a while a man called Eugenio, their courier, comes and breaks the conversation.

Winterbourne decides to inquire about this family and aks his aunt, Mrs. Costello, who straight forwardly says that she has « seen them – heard them – and kept out of their way », and who refuses to meet Daisy.

In the evening the young man finds Daisy walking around in the garden. Her mother is trying to get Randolph to bed, and after the young lady discovers that Mrs. Costello doesn't want to be acquainted with her, Mrs. Miller arrives, wearing her daughter's shawl. The