Books by Henry James

When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American is brought to Europe by her wealthy aunt Touchett, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to enjoy the freedom that her fortune has opened up and to determine her own fate, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors. It is only when she finds herself irresistibly drawn to the cultivated but worthless Gilbert Osmond that she discovers that wealth is a two-edged sword and that there is a price to be paid for independence. With its subtle delineation of American characters in a European setting, Portrait of a Lady is one of the most accomplished and popular of Henry James's early novels.

This volume attempts to determine the early influence shared between William Dean Howells and Henry James by reconstructing and evaluating documentary evidence of their literary cross-fertilization. The 151 letters included represent each writer's most significant criticism of the other.

Gripping ghost story by great novelist depicts the sinister transformation of 2 innocent children into flagrant liars and hypocrites. An elegantly told tale of unspoken horror and psychological terror.

Transplanted to Europe from her native America, Isabel Archer has candour, beauty, intelligence, an independent spirit and a marked enthusiasm for life. An unexpected inheritance apparently gives her freedom, but despite her natural advantages she makes one error of judgement and the result is genuinely tragic.

"The Turn of the Screw" is the classic ghost story for which James is most remembered. Set in a country house, it is a chilling tale of the supernatural. "The Aspern Papers" is a tale of Americans in Europe, cleverly evoking the drama of comedie humaine against the settings of a Venetian palace.

Making her debut in London society, Nanda Brookenham is being groomed for the marriage market. Thrust suddenly into the superficial and immoral circle that surrounds her mother, the innocent but independent-minded young woman even finds herself in competition with Mrs Brookenham for the affection of the man she admires. Only an elderly bachelor, Mr Longdon, is immune to this world of greed and scheming, and determines to rescue Nanda from its corrupting influences out of loyalty to the deep love he once felt for her grandmother. In The Awkward Age (1899), Henry James explores the English character, and the clash between old and new money with a light and subtly ironic touch to create a devastating critique of society and its machinations.

Mrs Gereth is convinced that Fleda Vetch would make the perfect daughter-in-law. Only the dreamy, highly-strung young woman can genuinely appreciate, and perhaps eventually share, Mrs Gereth's passion for her 'things' - the antique treasures she has amassed at Poynton Park in the south of England. Owen Gereth, however, has inconveniently become engaged to the uncultured Mona Brigstock. As a dramatic family quarrel unfolds, the hesitating Fleda is drawn in, yet she remains reluctant to captivate Owen, who seems as attracted to her as she is to him. Is she motivated by scruple or fear? In The Spoils of Poynton (1897), Henry James created a work of exquisite ambiguity in his depiction of three women fighting for the allegiance of one weak-willed man.

When wealthy Rowland Mallet first sees a sculpture by Roderick Hudson, he is astounded and pronounces it to be a work of genius, and is equally entranced by the sculptor's beauty, spirit and charisma. Wishing to give the impoverished artist the opportunity to develop his talent, he takes Roderick from America to Rome, where he becomes the talk of the city. But Roderick soon loses his inspiration and Rowland loses control of his prot g , while both fall in love with women they cannot ever have. Can Roderick be saved from the path to self-destruction he seems set on? One of Henry James's first novels, Roderick Hudson (1875) is a compelling depiction of the artistic temperament and of a young man who, like Icarus, flies too close to the sun.

The illegitimate and impoverished son of a dressmaker and a nobleman, Hyacinth Robinson has grown up with a strong sense of beauty that heightens his acute sympathy for the inequalities that surround him. Drawn into a secret circle of radical politics he makes a rash vow to commit a violent act of terrorism. But when the Princess Casamassima - beautiful, clever and bored - takes him up and introduces him to her own world of wealth and refinement, Hyacinth is torn. He is horrified by the destruction that would be wreaked by revolution, but still believes he must honour his vow, and finds himself gripped in an agonizing and, ultimately, fatal dilemma. A compelling blend of psychological observation, wit and compassion, The Princess Casamassima (1886) is one of Henry James's most deeply personal novels.

"The first extended study ever made of an American writer. It still remains one of the best."-Edmund Wilson Originally published in 1879, Henry James's Hawthorne has been out of print for many years. Cornell University Press is proud to make this...

Catherine is well on her way to becoming a spinster. She‘s 21 and part of New York‘s upper-class society, but she has never had a flirt and is plain-looking without the sparkling personality to make up for it. Or so her father thinks. Because when the handsome Mr. Morris Townsend catches her eye, Catherine falls head over heels in love with him. But does Townsend really like her back, or does he just like all the money she is set to inherit? Based on a true story as told to him by a friend, `Washington Square‘ (1880) is probably Henry James‘ most accessible novel. Fans of Jane Austen will definitely like this.Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author who already by his mid-20s was regarded as one of the most skilful short story writers of his time. Later he would write several classic novels including `Daisy Miller‘ (1878) and `The Portrait of a Lady‘ (1881). He spent much of his life in Europe and became and British citizen shortly before his death.

`What Maise Knew‘ (1897) should perhaps have been titled `Divorce for Dummies` instead. In this tense and clever novel, Henry James lays out with perfect clarity what not to do when your child becomes one of divorce, as in do the absolute opposite of everything Maise‘s parents do. Shuttled back and forth between her selfish mother and her vain father, Maise becomes a weapon in her parents‘ battle, a way for them to intensify their hatred of each other. Like Charles Dickens before him, Henry James seems to have been more invested in child welfare issues than most, and much of this story still rings true today. In 2012 it became a movie, set in the same year, with Julianne Moore and Alexander Skarsgård in leading roles.Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author who already by his mid-20s was regarded as one of the most skilful short story writers of his time. Later he would write several classic novels including `Daisy Miller‘ (1878) and `The Portrait of a Lady‘ (1881). He spent much of his life in Europe and became and British citizen shortly before his death.

Originally published in 1875 as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly, Roderick Hudson is a One has the money but not the talent. One has the talent but not the money. It would seem that Rowland Mallet and Roderick Hudson were meant to meet. A rich and sensible man, Rowland is ecstatic when Roderick, a beautiful but somewhat selfish sculptor, accepts his offer of joining him in Rome for two years to develop his artistic talents. To complicate matters, however, Rowland has fallen in love for the first time right before their departure and did not get a chance to express his feelings. But, as it turns out, he may never get to, because Roderick has just asked the same woman to marry him. Influenced, as he was, by Nathaniel Hawthorne in this early period, Henry James‘ wrote `Roderick Hudson‘ (1879) in a much more accessible way than his later novels. In fact, this is perfect for the contemporary literature fan with an interest in good love stories and clever character development.that traces the development of the title character, a sculptor. Roderick Hudson is James's first important novel. The theme of Americans in Europe, so important in much of James's work, is already central to the story. Hudson is a young law student in Northampton, Massachusetts, who shows such surprising ability as a sculptor that the rich Rowland Mallett, visiting a cousin in Northampton, decides to stake him to several years of study in Rome, then a center of expatriate American society. The story has to do not only with Roderick's growth as an artist and the problems it brings, but also as a man susceptible to his new environment, and indeed his occasional rivalries with his American friend and patron.Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author who already by his mid-20s was regarded as one of the most skilful short story writers of his time. Later he would write several classic novels including `Daisy Miller‘ (1878) and `The Portrait of a Lady‘ (1881). He spent much of his life in Europe and became and British citizen shortly before his death.

Christopher Newman, a somewhat awkward but well-meaning American businessman traveling in Europe for the first time, meets and falls in love with the aristocratic young widow Claire de Bellegarde. But her French family does not like his American ways and oppose his offer of marriage. When he discovers a dirty family secret, however, the tables are suddenly turned. But what should he do with upper hand? Despite being one of Henry James earliest works, `The American‘ (1877) flows more like a contemporary novel than his later work, mixing social comedy and melodrama to perfection.Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author who already by his mid-20s was regarded as one of the most skilful short story writers of his time. Later he would write several classic novels including `Daisy Miller‘ (1878) and `The Portrait of a Lady‘ (1881). He spent much of his life in Europe and became and British citizen shortly before his death.

En ung præstedatter ankommer til et idyllisk engelsk landsted for at tiltræde stillingen som guvernante for de to forældreløse børn Miles og Flora. Godset tilhører børnenes onkel, en travl forretningsmand fra London, hvis eneste krav er, at han ikke bliver forstyrret. Den unge guvernante indser dog snart, at det netop er forstyrrelser, godset myldrer med. Hun begynder at se to mystiske, tavse skikkelser rundt om på området, og samtidig viser de to børn, som ellers har været de rene engle, pludselig tegn på andre, mere ubehagelige sider. Sammen med uhyggen kommer også tvivlen snigende. For kan hun stole på sine indtryk, eller er de i virkeligheden indbildning og udslag af hendes ensomme situation og stadig mere nervøse tilstand?Den amerikanske forfatter Henry James (1843-1916) skrev mellem 1870 og 1904 en række romaner og noveller, der har givet ham status som en af epokens største prosaister og en eminent skildrer af den menneskelige psyke. Ved siden af sine realistiske værker som "Europæerne" og "Portræt af en dame" skrev Henry James også adskillige spøgelseshistorier. Han var optaget af genren, men ønskede at flytte den fra det kulørtovernaturlige over i det mere raffinerede og subtile, hvor det uhyggelige grænser lige op til det almindelige og hverdagslige.