Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City to a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits as opposed to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Confidence is a novel by Henry James which details the romantic interludes of various characters ultimately moving towards a happily ever after ending. This novel first arrived as a serial in the Scribners Monthly and is one of the entertaining novels of Henry James. In this fast paced novel the narrator presents the facts through the window of Bernard Longueville who is an artist by profession.
He is friends with the self proclaimed scientist Gordon Wright who is considered as a genius by Bernard. Bernard meets Angela Vivian and her mother, and soon considers Angela as a coquettish, mysterious airhead. Gordon Wright feels that he loves Angela and even Angela's mother also is in favor of their union. Bernard does not consider this a very suitable match and talks Gordon out of it.
Gordon soon marries Blanche, a colorless personality who dotes on him. Gordon is soon disillusioned and starts to dream about other women. A miscommunication leads Blanche to believe that he is having an affair and this flounders the marriage even more. With a strained marriage Gordon flees to a French beach resort.
Bernard on the other hand believes that he is above love and thinks nothing of Angela. A chance meeting he understands that he was always in love with her. Angela's mystique and allure inflames him. Angela is also taken in by Bernard and soon both are engaged to marry but Gordon arrival complicates matter. Gordon feels that he still loves Angela and begs her to take him back renouncing Bernard. But Angela feels that his love is purely for the outward appearance. She acts like she is renouncing Bernard to give Gordon a chance to win her back. In this process she subtly points out that he is really in love with Blanche and is actually trying to see her through tinted eyes. Gordon realizes his mistake and goes back to Blanche and Angela again steps in to clear the misunderstanding clouding Blanche's mind.
Angela and Bernard also get married and all live happily ever after. This fun novel is one of the rare happy ending devised by Henry James. The relationships and complex subplots and the happy ending is entirely believable and entertaining. A must read for anybody who has loved in his life.
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