"The Spoils of Poynton" is a short novel by
Henry James, published in 1897.
Poynton Park is the home of Owen Gereth,
the son of Mrs Gereth, a widow. The 'spoils' are the furniture antique and "objets d'art" with which his mother has filled Poynton Park with.
When Mrs Gereth discovers that Owen has decided to marry the tasteless and coarse Mona Brigstock, she tells the sensitive and prim-and-proper Fleda Vetch about her concerns. Fleda is a kind person who shares the same interest with Mrs Vetch. Owen becomes engaged to Mona and wants to take over Poynton Park, most especially, the to have possession of Mrs Gereth's collected furniture and other art.
Owen asks Fleda's help to ask his mother to leave Poynton. Fleda secretly falls in love with Owen. From her son's wishes, Mrs Gereth moves out to Ricks, a smaller family house but with her she takes her most prized possessions. When Fleda visits Mrs Gereth's new living quarter she notices the best pieces from Poynton Park furnished there and felt it's not quite appropriate to be present in that small place.
Mona finds out that the most important spoils are still in Mrs Gereth's possession. She threatens to break off the engagement unless the spoils are returned to Poynton. Meanwhile, Owen has become more attracted to Fleda which Mrs Gereth notices and is glad about it. Eventually, Owen declares his love for Fleda, but she insists that he should honor his engagement to Mona, that she will only consider unless Mona breaks off.
Mrs Gereth, now certain that Owen has transferred his affections to Fleda, returns the spoils and the fine furniture to Poynton. Owen attempts to break his engagement with Mona. Mona, upon hearing the return of the spoils to Poynton, forces Owen to marry her. After a few days, Owen and Mona are reported married and they travel abroad.
Soon afterwards, Fleda receives a letter from Owen asking her to choose any one piece from Poynton as hers to keep. As soon as she arrives at Poynton Park, the house and its contents go up in flames consumed by fire.
The story is a sensitive characterization of
Henry James's characters in Mrs Gereth, consumed by her material collection; Fleda, a victim by those around her; Mona, crude but gets what she wants; and Owen, wishy-washy and brainless but harmless.