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Henry James (1843-1916)
Who?
One of the subtlest and most indirect of novelists, James explored the landscape of the mind, paying special attention to fine shades of emotion and perception. Born in New York, but after 1866 lived mainly in Europe. His main theme is the contrast between American and European character.
Must reads
The Europeans (1878), The Portrait of a Lady (1881), What Maisie Knew (1897), The Bostonians (1886), The Turn of the Screw (1898), The Wings of the Dove (1902), The Ambassadors (1903) and The Golden Bowl (1904).
Darkest hour
In 1895, his play Guy Domville flopped and he became seriously depressed.
Greatest triumph
In 1916, he is awarded the Order of Merit.
Essential quotes
'''But I always want to know the things one shouldn't do." ''So as to do them?'' asked her aunt. ''So as to choose,'' said Isabel.' (The Portrait of a Lady)
'Live all you can; it is a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven't had that what have you had?' (The Ambassadors)
'Big baggy monsters of fiction.' (James on Victorian novels)
Gossip
He never married.
Did u know?
He lived for over 20 years in London. Although much attached to English life, he continued to think and feel like an American. In 1915 he became a British subject. He used to dictate his work, which included about 100 short stories, to a secretary.
Peer review
Joseph Conrad called him 'the historian of fine consciences'.
What to say
James was a very serious writer, a firm admirer of George Eliot and the French novelist Honore de Balzac, who he called 'the master of us all'. Alienation and betrayal are important themes in his work, which has always been a minority taste.
Don't say
Hooray Henry!
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