Magic + Loss

Magic + Loss

Share this post

Magic + Loss
Magic + Loss
The easy way to be on the right side of things

The easy way to be on the right side of things

Virginia Heffernan's avatar
Virginia Heffernan
May 11, 2022
∙ Paid
11

Share this post

Magic + Loss
Magic + Loss
The easy way to be on the right side of things
1
Share

Have you ever tried to break up with someone and tried to make it seem like their idea? Or had this happened to you? What a spot-on description of this particular gaslight (here a rejection of a daughter by a father) in Henry James’ "What Maisie Knew":

“[Maisie] understood as well as if [her father] had spoken it that what he wanted, hang it, was that sh…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Magic + Loss to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Virginia Heffernan
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share