Lonely and magical, Portrait of Jennie is often cited as a romantic fantasy masterpiece. Thanks to a classic film starring Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones, it is the one book title by this sadly almost forgotten author which is vaguely familiar to modern readers.

Perhaps because there is something pure and lovely in his gentle tales, his oeuvre is incompatible with the crass harshness of modern life, and much of modern literature. That makes them no less wonderful, however, and for some readers, makes them better. Like all of Robert Nathan’s stories, there is something ethereal here in Portrait of Jennie that nearly defies description.

Is it the feeling of loneliness and loss of hope with which Nathan dusts the pages?

Is it Nathan's skill at showing the thin line between desolation and inspiration which so plagues every artist?

Is it Nathan's own tender portrait of the lovely Jennie, using words rather than a brush to paint her as she moves through time and ages, finally becoming the protagonist's great love, and his inspiration?

Or is it Robert Nathan's insightful observations on life, and the living of it?

Perhaps it is all of these things, and much more. Robert Nathan imbued this story with some intangible magic that either touches our heart when it is still open to love and romance, or falls flat and shames us because our heart has been worn down and tainted by our crass modern world, and already moved into a winter too cold to embrace its romantic purity.

While it is somewhat more protracted than many of Nathan’s other wonderful stories, it is still incredibly lovely, with passages and sentiments so touching they are never forgotten by the reader. An all-time favorite book of mine, one which will certainly be enjoyed by anyone with a romantic heart. ( )

I do not know why this book has always gripped me. I first read it when I was rather young and had a more romantic view, but even as an older person there is something that holds me to the story. Nathan wastes no words...every scene and every syllable count. ( )

Hard to classify. This is a short and sweet love story with supernatural aspects. Worth the read. ( )

Really more of a 3.5, a book I'm sure I'll actually remember and think about in the future. Right after reading this I read this essay in the NY Times, about not remembering books: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/books/review/Collins-t.html

This one I'll remember, for the story and writing as well as the circumstances of its reading. I read it in one sitting on (probably) the last sunny day of this year, on a hill overlooking a lake, with mosquitoes, gnats, and other winged irritants attacking. ( )

Portrait of Jennie by Robert Nathan is a novella that was originally published in 1940. This story combines romance, fantasy, mystery and the supernatural as it tells about struggling artist Eben Adams and his encounters with a young girl. They first meet in a park when she is very young and he is feeling particularly lost and sad. She inspires him to draw sketches of her that cause others to admire. At each encounter, Jennie appears to be a little older and when he tries to question her she simply says she is hurrying to catch up with him. He eventually gets her to sit for a portrait that becomes known as his masterpiece.

By putting together the scant information he learns about her, he comes to realize that she is from another time. It is never quite explained in the book whether she is time travelling or if she is an apparition from another time. But this really isn’t important as we the reader, must simply accept what is happening and accompany Eden and Jennie on their emotional journey.

Portrait of Jennie has become one of this author’s best known works due to the 1948 film starring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. Another of his books, The Bishop’s Wife, was also made into a successful film and deals with many of the same themes. ( )