The ultimate dower house issue: The Spoils of Poynton

The Spoils of Poynton by Henry James published 1896/7 Fleda Vetch. How would you picture this character? In a Patricia Wentworth book she would be one of those minxy girls with dark hair, flashing eyes, bright red nails and a talent for stealing other girls’ boyfriends. In an Angela Brazil school story she would be the Sneak of the Fourth Form. In Henry James she is a splendid heroine. Where DID he get that name from? I once wrote a whole article for the Guardian about what I considered to be poor name choices for fictional characters, Guardian Books Blog: Complaints about Characters' Names and I am sorry I did not include her. (Even Veda Fletch would be better) Wherever it cam from: in The Spoils of Poynton she is a great friend of the much older Mrs Gereth, who is recently widowed and has to give up her home to her son. We looked at Dower Houses recently, Do you even know what a Dower House is? and I mentioned this book, which contains an archetypal version. I reported then that Mrs…