The Princess Casamassima (PDF)

Hyacinth Robinson is a hard-working bookbinder whose moral philosophy begins as an inelegant, ill-considered radicalism. He was born of Florentine Viver who murdered her husband, Lord Frederick, Hyacinth's father. She is doomed to a life in prison, and Hyacinth cannot assume his father's title because of her felonious act. He is adopted by a generous seamstress Amanda Pynsent. His profession and his comrades provide an education of revolutionary convictions, and his sympathies cause him to defend the underprivileged by making a vow with his fellow anarchists that he will kill any aristocrat they name. As he lets this commitment smolder inside his heart, he and his girlfriend Millicent Henning attend the theatre where he meets Captain Sholto who introduces him to the beautiful Princess Casamassima. She is American born and married into her title. Her husband was an Italian Prince who is now distanced from her. Hyacinth is presented to the upper class by the Princess, and he realizes the advantages and charm of this new social realm. He had been told pessimistic things about the aristocrats from his lower class associates, but he suspects that their rancor is stirred by envy. He now has only contempt for his mother and her socioeconomic station while he begins to feel respect and appreciation for his father. He also understands that he is heedful of the Princess and deluded by her. With all these psychological conflicts uncovered he sees that the promise he made to his radical friends is no longer possible for him to keep. He purposefully resolves the conflicts of renouncing his birth mother, honoring his father, and loving his adopted mother.
Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.