Henry James"s novel "What Maisie Knew" is the story of Beale and Ida Farange and their daughter Maisie. When the two divorce the court orders that the custody of Maisie be split between the two. Spending six months with each, Maisie finds herself in an unstable position as the immoral and frivolous Beale and Ida use Maisie to intensify their animosity for each other. "What Maisie Knew" is a tragic tale of the consequences of a child caught between two unloving parents.