Henry James: A Life

Edel, Leon

ISBN 10: 0060154594 / ISBN 13: 9780060154592

Published by Harper & Row, 1985

About this Item

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Henry James: A Life
• Publisher: Harper & Row
• Publication Date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060154594
• ISBN 13: 9780060154592
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Traces the life of the prominent nineteenth century American novelist, examines his major works, and tries to capture his complex personality

Reviews

More than a deft abridgment of Edel's classic, prize-winning five-volume James biography, this is an updated, partially rewritten version of it. Inclusive of new source material and without some of the "reticences" regarding James's passional life, it is essentially a new book. Into the outer story of James's lifethe early American years; the "passionate pilgrimages" to France and Italy; the friendships with many of Europe's preeminent writers, Flaubert, Zola, Turgenev, R. L. Stevenson, Kipling, Conrad and H. G. Wells among them; the disastrous failure in the theater; and the horror of World War IEdel weaves with perfect literary tact the inner story, that of the developing mind of a writer he calls the first of the psychological novelists and America's "one fully achieved literary artist," together with sensitive analyses of the novels. We see this most active contemplative, most subtle observer of human emotion, most dedicated pursuer of his craft in his imaginative workshop; and Edel indeed catches, to quote one of his innumerable telling phrases, something of "the radiance of his powerful artistry." Illustrations. November 13
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Even as fascinating a subject as Henry James's life is more inviting in one vol ume than in five, and the wealth of de tail and incident in Edel's new one-vol ume abridgement of his multi-volume biography gives no sense of omission. Edel's revision and tightening are skill ful, particularly in the condensed dis cussion of the James family and the ex panded commentary on Henry James's personal relations and celibacy. James wrote that ``Art makes life, makes in terest, makes importance.'' Edel's re telling of James's life does not ``make'' his subjects art, but it contributes inter est and informed analysis of the place of James's novels and stories in his life. : Highly recommended. Cristanne Miller, English Dept., Pomona Coll., Claremont, Cal.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.