"I am re-reading Henry James as a change from history. I began with Daisy Miller, and I've just finished Washington Square. What a brilliant, painful book"

In this quote, the speaker, Antonia Fraser, expresses their present reading option of Henry James as a break from their normal reading of history. They mention starting with the novel Daisy Miller and just recently finishing Washington Square. The speaker's usage of the words "brilliant" and "unpleasant" to describe the book recommends that they found it to be both well-written and mentally impactful. This might show that the book explores hard or uneasy topic, leaving a long lasting impression on the reader. Overall, the quote highlights the speaker's gratitude for James' writing and their desire to switch up their reading habits.