Henry James
Often regarded as one of the most important literary figures of his era, American-born author Henry James possessed a unique knack for describing the idiosyncrasies of dysfunctional families. The Ambient family at the center of the novella The Author of Beltraffio ranks among his most compelling creations. The patriarch Mark Ambient is an acclaimed novelist whose wife strongly disapproves of his work. Will this discordance bring the family
...2) The American
The American by renowned novelist Henry James offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the differences—and, though less pronounced—the similarities between American culture and European culture. Regarded as one of the most important American writers of his era, James' deft juxtaposition of these two cultural traditions—set against the backdrop of a subtly nuanced love story—will delight fans of literary fiction.
Explore timeless questions about spirituality, love, remembrance, and mortality with this tale from the pen of Henry James, a master of psychological suspense fiction. The two protagonists featured in The Altar of the Dead have dedicated their lives to remembering those who have passed on from this world, but find that honoring the dead can make living one's own life to the fullest a challenge.
Like many of Henry James' short stories, The Figure in the Carpet revolves around an artist whose body of work hides a deeper meaning and several other characters who bear the heavy burden of a momentous secret. When a group of friends unlocks the true significance of a misunderstood novelist's oeuvre, the weight of this knowledge bears unforeseen—and terrible—consequences.
The Aspern Papers is a novella set in Venice. A young man travels to the city and takes lodgings with an old woman—the former lover of the dead American poet Aspern. The man believes the old woman still has some letters from Aspern and he ingratiates himself with her niece in an attempt to find them. Suspense builds around the motives and actions of James' masterfully drawn characters.
Henry James, the nineteenth-century American writer who was lauded for his skill with insightful, elegantly styled prose, was fascinated by the differences between Americans and their European counterparts. This theme was a feature of many of his works, including the novella The Europeans. In this text, James takes a comic approach to highlighting the stark contrasts between the two cultures.
7) Hawthorne
Though Henry James is best remembered as a titan of nineteenth-century American literature and an important innovator in the domain of literary realism, he was also a key figure in the literary criticism of the period and helped to shape the era's critical sensibility. In this fascinating volume, James focuses his critical lens on Nathaniel Hawthorne, his creative forebear, who many regard as one of James' only true literary equals in the American
...8) In the Cage
Long recognized as one of the most refined and insightful American writers of the nineteenth century, Henry James turns his keen powers of perception and observation to the case of a London telegraph operator in the novella In the Cage. Over time, the operator becomes adept at inferring personal details from customers' messages and develops an unhealthy interest in the quotidian lives of those she serves. A masterpiece of psychological subtlety,
...As the Victorian era drew to a close and the twentieth century loomed, women began to assert themselves more and take greater liberties. It was a shift that Henry James dealt with in many of his stories, including the beguiling novella Georgina's Reasons. The Georgina of the title is a mysterious figure who commits a number of transgressions for reasons that ultimately remain unclear. It's a masterful character study of the caliber only
...10) Confidence
Because he's ranked among the most important American writers, many readers shy away from Henry James' work, assuming that it will be arduous and overly challenging. If you're in that camp, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this engaging and accessible Confidence, a tale of romantic entanglements that shift over time but ultimately fall into place.
11) Roderick Hudson
In this beautifully wrought novel from master of American fiction Henry James, a talented young sculptor is taken under the wing of a rich and powerful patron who attempts to help foster the full emergence of the sculptor's creative prowess by setting him up in grand style in Italy. However, plans rarely go off as conceived, and before long, the sculptor Roderick finds himself unable to work and in love with the wrong woman.
12) The Pupil
The Moreen family is a loathsome crew of greedy, dishonorable, self-serving twits—with the notable exception of one brilliant, earnest eleven-year-old son, Morgan. When the Moreens secure the services of a young tutor, Pemberton, to guide Morgan's studies (with no intention of ever paying him, of course), the two develop a deep and lasting friendship. Will Pemberton be able to save Morgan from the influence of his family before it's too late?
...13) Nona Vincent
In this tale from prominent nineteenth-century literary realist Henry James, an effort to resuscitate a foundering theatrical work serves as the backdrop for a burgeoning love triangle between the playwright, the lead actress, and the playwright's married confidante and mentor.
Henry James is widely recognized as one of the key figures in the American literary canon, but he was just one part of the brilliant and accomplished James clan. This moving memoir details Henry's early years with his beloved brother William James, the renowned psychologist and thinker.
15) What Maisie Knew
Maisie's parents go through an acrimonious divorce when she is very young, and the court decrees that she will travel between them, spending time with each. They do not hesitate to use her in their war against each other, and she is neglected and abandoned by them as they each remarry and then take further lovers. The story follows her to maturity, when she is able to decide her own fate.
16) The Tragic Muse
What is the true function of the artist in society? Do fame and acclaim help or hinder the artist's pursuit of creative expression? These are the timeless questions underpinning this classic novel from American literary legend Henry James. The story follows the parallel career trajectories of two artists: Nick Dormer, who is trying to juggle both a political career and his love of painting, and Miriam Rooth, an ambitious young actress who will
...17) The Marriages
In the work of renowned American fiction writer Henry James, romantic relationships are often complicated by issues of finances and social standing. Those problems definitely surface in the tale "The Marriages," in which a widow and widower's shot at love is destroyed beyond repair by a vengeful, paranoid daughter.
18) The Jolly Corner
This finely crafted novella from fiction master Henry James combines several themes from James' body of work: the clash of cultures between Europe and America, an uncanny encounter with a doppelganger, and a pervasive sense of unease and ambiguity. After living abroad for decades, American Spencer Brydon returns to his native New York to take care of some business dealings, but he soon succumbs to an obsessive preoccupation with his past life.
A down-on-his-luck writer makes an impulsive decision to buy a secondhand desk, and in its nooks and crannies, he finds a cache of secret documents that contain explosive secrets that could besmirch the legacy of a prominent politician. Will he leverage his findings to make an easy buck?
Regarded as one of Henry James' finest works, the short story The Beast in the Jungle centers around protagonist John Marcher and his seemingly bizarre phobia—a pervasive sense of doom that prevents him from living his life to the fullest and precludes the possibility of him ever finding true love. This fascinating read highlights the psychological complexity that has earned James' fiction so much critical acclaim.