James' work is littered with strong, fascinating women who are incidental to his stories about weak, ineffective young men. Miss Juliana Bordereau is perhaps the best example. When she appears in the narrative, Miss Juliana is ancient and wizened, her compelling eyes blinded and shielded by a green eyeshade or bandages. In her youth, Miss Juliana was the mistress of the famous American poet Jeffery Aspern. As his muse, she inspired much of his poetry and their illicit love affair was legendary.