'The Aspern Papers' is a novella written by Henry James. One of James' best-known and most acclaimed longer tales, 'The Aspern Papers' is based on the letters Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote to Mary Shelley's step sister, Claire Clairemont, who saved them until she died. Set in Venice, 'The Aspern Papers' demonstrates James' ability to generate suspense while never neglecting the development of his characters.