Henry James

Dame Rebecca WestProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 126K words
Chapters: 13

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Henry James by Rebecca WestAuthor: West, Rebecca, 1892-1983,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Sep 3, 2011

Editor's review

Written by the English author Rebecca West, this biography focuses on the American novelist Henry James, his life and work. It is concise and bears a distinct author-study style. Its value lies first in tracing James's creative path and international themes from the perspective of a contemporary literary figure, helping readers place works such as The Portrait of a Lady and The Wings of the Dove in their historical context. Second, West was an excellent critic herself; her prose is sharp and judicious, offering analysis around the works rather than a flat chronological listing of biographical facts, which makes for stimulating reading. For Chinese readers, it also offers an introductory path different from academic monographs: first see how one writer views another, then decide which original work to explore in depth. It is suitable as supplementary reading for courses in foreign literature, or for looking back and confirming impressions after reading one or two of James's novels. The electronic edition is a public-domain English text and is best read alongside an annotated edition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying English and American literature who want to understand the development of Henry James's writing
Undergraduates and graduate students preparing papers on foreign literature who need a critical perspective for reference
Readers who enjoy author studies and literary essays and prefer concise critical commentary
Enthusiasts who want a guide to look back on after reading James's novels

Not a good fit for

Readers who do not read English originals at all and want only a complete Chinese translation
Biographical researchers expecting detailed chronologies, letters, and archival scholarship
Beginners in English who need graded readers to build confidence

Reading tips

Read one of James's major works first, such as The Portrait of a Lady, then return to the critical sections of this book
Take notes as you read on West's specific judgments about the works and compare them with your own reading experience
When a quotation involves contemporary writers and works, look up the background before continuing
Read a short section each day, and after each chapter summarize its main critical points in two or three sentences

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a complete biography of Henry James?

Not a detailed biography in the strict sense. It is a concise critical biography focused on judgments and analysis of James and his work rather than a year-by-year listing of biographical details. If you need a full chronology and letters, consult an academic biography alongside it.

Can I read it without having read James's novels?

You can, but with diminished returns. Much of the book discusses specific works; reading at least one or two major novels first makes it easier to understand why the author reaches those judgments. Otherwise you may be left with abstract impressions.

How difficult is the English, and what reading level is needed?

It is critical English written for general readers, with long sentences and dense argumentation, but not many technical terms. University-level English reading ability and a willingness to look up words are enough; an e-reader with a dictionary, plus notes or a guide, is recommended.

Is the source of this electronic edition reliable?

The text comes from Project Gutenberg, a long-standing provider of public-domain ebooks, and has been proofread by volunteers; it is suitable for personal reading and study. Public-domain editions usually lack modern scholarly notes, however, so check authoritative editions and page numbers when citing it in papers.

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About the author

Dame Rebecca West Author · British · 1892–1983

Dame Rebecca West (1892–1983) was a British writer, journalist, literary critic and travel writer, born Cecily Isabel Fairfield and later known by the surname Andrews. Born in London, she was active in the women's suffrage movement, and her pen name was taken from a character in Ibsen's Rosmersholm. Her work spans fiction, critical biography and reportage: the early novels The Return of the Soldier (1918) and The Judge (1922) examine personal emotion and social change with delicate psychological insight, while her critical study Henry James (1916) shows her sharp literary judgment. She later became known for reporting on the Nuremberg trials and wrote Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1941). She was made a DBE in 1959. Three of her works are held in this catalogue; public information is limited, but her writing combines a journalist's observation with a novelist's psychological depth.