Summary

The story’s unnamed narrator is a literary critic and editor. He opens the story by narrating his arrival in Venice and his scheme to acquire letters written by Jeffrey Aspern. Aspern was an American poet who died several decades earlier. Although Aspern was obscure in his time, he is now a highly renowned poet and a particular favorite of the narrator. The letters in question are letters that Aspern wrote to his lover, Juliana Bordereau. Juliana is now quite old, and she lives a secluded life in Venice with her grand-niece, Tita Bordereau. The narrator learned of Juliana’s whereabouts through a mutual friend named Mrs. Prest. A few weeks ago, the narrator’s colleague John Cumnor wrote to Juliana asking if she had any letters written by Aspern. Tita sent back a stern letter to the contrary, but the denial seemed suspicious...