Henry James was an American-born British writer who became one of the most influential writers and critics of the late 19th century, particularly in regard to the literary movement known as Realism. A forerunner of writers like James Joyce, much of Henry James' works were written from the point of view of a character in the book, and many of his titles, including Daisy Miller, The Portrait of a Lady, and The Turn of the Screw, are all widely read and remain popular today. Though it is one of his lesser known works, The Aspern Papers is a suspenseful tale about a devotee of Percy Shelley who wants access to Shelley's papers. Set in Venice, James is able to build the plotline and develop characters despite the fact it's only a medium length story.