The American

James, Henry, 1843-1916Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 739K words
Chapters: 74

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.The American by Henry JamesAuthor: James, Henry, 1843-1916,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Mar 12, 2006

Editor's review

The American is an early novel by Henry James. It tells of a self-made American businessman who comes to Paris to seek a respectable marriage for his family, only to run up against the old continent's aristocratic rules and family secrets. Its readability comes from clear dramatic conflict: the directness and confidence of the New World collide with the reticence and barriers of the Old, and the protagonist's good intentions and clumsiness are both credible. James had not yet entered the extremely intricate syntax of his later period; the narrative threads are concentrated and character motivations are clearly set out, making this a suitable first book for entering his work. The descriptions of Parisian salons, aristocratic family atmosphere and cross-cultural misreading also provide vivid material for understanding the nineteenth-century cultural gap between Europe and America. While reading, one might note the innocence and energy carried by the word "American," and how the author makes readers both sympathize with the protagonist and see his limitations. The public-domain electronic text has no modern notes; reading with background materials is recommended.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers new to Henry James who worry that his later works are difficult
Novel readers interested in cross-cultural collision and differences between European and American society
Students taking English and American literature courses who need an early James text
Those who like conflict between character psychology and social rules in a steady-paced classic novel

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast pace, strong plot twists or action scenes
Beginners with limited English reading experience who want detailed notes and a translation
Readers impatient with nineteenth-century social detail and psychological elaboration

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters to understand the protagonist's purpose in Paris, then follow the thread of obstructed social contact.
Note the reticence and misreading in dialogue, and jot down the moments when each side believes it understands the other.
After finishing, compare a short passage from a later James work to feel the change in syntax and psychological description.
English learners can advance volume by volume, summarizing the changes in character relationships in a few sentences at the end of each.

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 book suitable as a first Henry James?

Relatively suitable. It belongs to James's early work, with comparatively direct sentences, clear plot threads and an easy-to-grasp theme of cross-cultural conflict. Reading it before moving on to later long novels such as The Portrait of a Lady will make their intricate style easier to adapt to.

What is the main conflict of the story?

An American businessman comes to Paris seeking a respectable marriage but encounters the reserve, rules and hidden circumstances of an old aristocratic family. The conflict is not in fighting but in the two sides' differing understandings of "respectability," "sincerity" and "family," and in the misjudgments caused by the protagonist's direct manner.

How difficult is the original English?

It is nineteenth-century literary English, with longer syntax than modern fiction and reticent social dialogue. Readers with a college-level English reading foundation who are willing to slow down can finish it; using a dictionary and background introduction is recommended, and there is no need to pursue speed.

What is missing from the public-domain electronic edition?

Usually there is no modern editor's introduction, historical notes or explanation of difficult words. Readers who need to understand the background of Parisian aristocratic society or James's early creative work must consult relevant general materials separately.

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About the author

James, Henry, 1843-1916 Author

Henry James (1843–1916) was a novelist born in the United States who later became a British citizen, known for his psychological realism. He advances his narratives through his characters' consciousness and moral dilemmas, in a delicate, restrained style with carefully crafted sentences, often using limited points of view to leave meaningful gaps. His works frequently explore themes such as the collision between European and American cultures, marriage and freedom, and innocence versus worldly sophistication. The collection holds 81 of his works, including the two-volume The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove, The Golden Bowl, The Beast in the Jungle, and the novella The Turn of the Screw. These works range from novels to novellas and show his fine, detailed portrayal of inner life across different lengths. Public information is limited, so biographical details are omitted, but these works alone reveal his important place in the tradition of psychological narrative in English literature.