Henry James

Henry James is remembered today as one of the most important novelists of his era, yet his own life was just as full of drama as the fiction he produced. He grew up in a household that was unusual and often strained, and eventually set out for Europe, where he became a familiar presence among the American and British writers who had gathered there.

Fred Kaplan brings this world back to life, following James's relationships with fellow authors such as Edith Wharton and Joseph Conrad. The book also explores James's deep appreciation for beauty of every kind, including the craft of fine prose, and his lifelong attempt to make sense of how people think and behave.

Kaplan tells the story in chronological order and situates each stage of James's life within the broader history of his times. The result is a lively, dramatic portrait written for readers interested in literary history and the making of a writer.