Novels 1871-1880: Watch and Ward, Roderick Hudson, The American, The Europeans, Confidence.

James, Henry; William T. Stafford wrote the notes and selected the texts for this volume.

ISBN 10: 0940450135 / ISBN 13: 9780940450134

Published by Library of America, New York, 1983

About this Item

SUPERB: CLASSIC: AS-NEW First Edition hardcover (Orig. 1983) Second Printing (c. 1985), EXCELLENT cream-tan paper-over-boards slip-case w/ double gilt-rule-bordered front panel displaying gilt-stamped LOA logo at top center, IMMACULATE smooth-cut text-block exterior, NEW silk-finish sand-tan Brillianta linen-over-boards cover w/ sharp NEW edges & corners, IMPECCABLE white-on-tan LOA-patterned end-papers on heavy stock, NEW sewn binding w/ tight signatures & w/ tan-white-checked cloth bands at spine-caps & silk tan page-marker ribbon, PRISTINE interior handsomely printed in 10-point Linotron Galliard on SUPERB Ecusta Nyalite paper * 5.0" x 8.12" x 1.68", 0.82 kg, 1287 pp. In slipcase: 5.36" x 8.50 x 1.76", 0.92 kg * CONTENTS: Novels 1871-1880: Watch & Ward (1), Roderick Hudson (163), The American (513), The Europeans (873), Confidence (1039); Chronology (1253), Note on the Texts (1269), Notes (1279). * The first five novels of Henry James, presented complete in this volume, feature sparkling dialog, masterfully timed suspense, & the romance of youthful artistic aspirations. The contrast between Europe & America, which gives a special dimension to all of James' cultural observations, is brilliantly deployed in these early works. "Watch and Ward," written when James was 28, is a Bostonian version of the Pygmalion story. In "Roderick Hudson," a headstrong & gifted young American sculptor loses his way among the temptations of Italy. "The American" was written in Paris & dramatizes a confrontation between the expatriate culture of American tourists & the protected world behind the barriers of old families & traditions. "The Europeans," by contrast, places 2 visiting European cousins in a pristine & conservative New England village. The little-known & charming "Confidence" is a light drawing-room comedy about the romantic entanglements of Americans traveling through Europe. * Henry James (1843-1916), born in New York City, was the son of noted religious philosopher Henry James, Sr., & brother of eminent psychologist & philosopher William James. He spent his early life in America & studied in Geneva, London & Paris during his adolescence to gain the worldly experience so prized by his father. He lived in Newport, went briefly to Harvard Law School, & in 1864 began to contribute both criticism & tales to magazines. In 1869, & then in 1872-74, he paid visits to Europe & began his first novel, "Roderick Hudson". Late in 1875 he settled in Paris, where he met Turgenev, Flaubert, & Zola, & wrote "The American" (1877). In December 1876 he moved to London, where 2 years later he achieved international fame w/ "Daisy Miller". Other famous works include "Washington Square" (1880), "The Portrait of a Lady" (1881), "The Princess Casamassima" (1886), "The Aspern Papers" (1888), "The Turn of the Screw" (1898) & 3 large novels of the new century, "The Wings of the Dove" (1902), "The Ambassadors" (1903) & "The Golden Bowl" (1904). In 1905 he revisited the United States & wrote "The American Scene" (1907). During his career he also wrote many works of criticism & travel. Although old & ailing, he threw himself into war work in 1914, & in 1915, a few months before his death, he became a British subject. In 1916 King George V conferred the Order of Merit on him. He died in London in February 1916. * The Library of America is an award-winning, nonprofit program dedicated to publishing America's best & most significant writing in handsome, enduring volumes, featuring authoritative texts. Hailed as "the most important book-publishing project in the nation's history" (Newsweek), this acclaimed series is restoring America's literary heritage in "the finest-looking, longest-lasting edition ever made" (New Republic).

Seller Inventory # 010668

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Novels 1871-1880: Watch and Ward, Roderick Hudson, The American, The Europeans, Confidence.
• Publisher: Library of America, New York
• Publication Date: 1983
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0940450135
• ISBN 13: 9780940450134
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 2nd Printing
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: Excellent Slipcase
• Weight: 0.92 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Five novels dramatize the interaction of Americans with more sophisticated Europeans

About the Authors

Henry James (1843-1916), born in New York City, was the son of noted religious philosopher Henry James, Sr., and brother of eminent psychologist and philosopher William James. His many works include Washington Square (1880), The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Princess Casamassima (1886), The Aspern Papers (1888), The Turn of the Screw (1898), and three large novels of the new century, The Wings of the Dove (1902), The Ambassadors (1903) and The Golden Bowl (1904). He died in London in February 1916.

William T. Stafford (1924&;1991), volume editor, was a professor of English at Purdue University, a founder and editor of the journal Modern Fiction Studies, and the author of numerous studies of James&;s novels, plays, and criticism. 

Henry James (1843-1916), born in New York City, was the son of noted religious philosopher Henry James, Sr., and brother of eminent psychologist and philosopher William James. He spent his early life in America and studied in Geneva, London and Paris during his adolescence to gain the worldly experience so prized by his father. He lived in Newport, went briefly to Harvard Law School, and in 1864 began to contribute both criticism and tales to magazines.

In 1869, and then in 1872-74, he paid visits to Europe and began his first novel, Roderick Hudson. Late in 1875 he settled in Paris, where he met Turgenev, Flaubert, and Zola, and wrote The American (1877). In December 1876 he moved to London, where two years later he achieved international fame with Daisy Miller. Other famous works include Washington Square (1880), The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Princess Casamassima (1886), The Aspern Papers (1888), The Turn of the Screw (1898), and three large novels of the new century, The Wings of the Dove (1902), The Ambassadors (1903) and The Golden Bowl (1904). In 1905 he revisited the United States and wrote The American Scene (1907).

During his career he also wrote many works of criticism and travel. Although old and ailing, he threw himself into war work in 1914, and in 1915, a few months before his death, he became a British subject. In 1916 King George V conferred the Order of Merit on him. He died in London in February 1916.