The Reverberator (published in 1888) - A classic story by Henry James

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 in 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 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.
The Reverberator is a comic love story in which James explores the public hunger for gossip. He explores the journalistic voyeurism akin to todays page 3, which is actually due to the indiscretions on the part of the public itself.



The Dossons are a nouveau rich family who are rising steadily in the society. In contrast are the Proberts who are American born, but cling to their old French roots for societal recognition. The Proberts are the snobbish aristocracy of the town who look down upon Dossons new money. The Dossons in Paris get acquainted with George Flack who writes for an American Gossip paper “The Reverberator” who introduces them to the finer points of Parisian life and art. Young Francie Dosson poses as a model for a painting and gets introduced to Gaston Probert and their whirlwind romance culminates in to an engagement.
Francie even though had turned down Flack's proposal, she remains friends with him. The Proberts are dismayed by the engagement but everything remains hunky dory on the surface. But the lull before the storm does not last long when Francie talks about the intimate going-on's within the Probert's circle. Flack promptly prints the juicy details in his newspaper and all hell breaks loose. The Proberts are sickened by the reports and even Gaston is horrified by Francie's indiscretion. But the Dossons and Francie are not very apologetic as they find nothing disturbing about the reports. They even find the publicity mildly amusing.
So does the scandal cause a wedge between Gaston and Francie? Well this may turn out to be a spoiler - Suzanne, Gaston's sister supports Francie in an unexpected turn of events and this urges Gaston too to put his weight behind her. After a little heart burn both Gaston and Francie do get married.
This book also chronicles James's pet subject about the clash of cultures, between the old world snobbery and new world indiscretions. This is one of the rare comedies written by Henry James and certainly deserves a look.

The Tragic Muse (published in 1890) - A classic written by Henry James

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 into 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 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.
The Tragic Muse tells the angst of a man condemned to pursue the family line instead of his heart. This novel is a byproduct of Henry James's fascination for the theater and its artist. The protagonist is Nick Dormer who is passionate about art and hopes to pursue the career of an artist. But he is pressurized to tow the family diktat wherein politics is a chosen field. Nick's friend and guide Gabriel Nash also encourages his passion, but Nick despite his misgivings about politics gives up his artistic ambition and plunges head long in to the political Arena.
Peter Sheringham is a career diplomat who meets Mariam Rooth, an aspiring actress. Rooth is beautiful and full of passion even though her rough edges blunts her attractiveness. Sheringham does everything to help Rooth to attain her ambition of becoming a famous actress even to the extent of introducing her to Madame Carre to train her.



Nick Dormer roughs it out in the electoral field and wins the election to the parliament. His ambitious fiancée Julia is ecstatic as she envisages herself to a part of the race. Nick proposes to Julia who gleefully accepts him and both decide to wait to set the date. But Nick soon becomes tired with the rough and tumble of politics and quits. He even looses the patronage of many powerful people, but undettered he returns to his first love, painting. Meanwhile, a vastly improved Mariam reaches London in search of theatrical success and she agrees to pose for Nick's painting the “Tragic Muse”. During the course of the painting, Julia chances upon them and all hell break loose. Julia understands that nothing improper has happened, but is devastated by the realization that Nick would never return to public life. This scandal brings Mariam to the public gaze and she leverages it for her success. A wedge is created between Nick and Julia.
Sheringham proposes marriage to Mariam who turns him down and heartbroken he takes up an assignment in central America. Years go by and so does the fortunes of the protagonist. A much chastened Sheringham returns and accepts Biddy Dormer's hand and Nick pursues art with all his heart and soul courting success. Mariam also succeeds as an actress and the novel ends with a supposed reconciliation between Nick and Julia.
A good book perfectly written about the vagaries of fame and triumph.

The Portrait of a Lady (published in 1881) - written by Henry James

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 into 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 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.
"The portrait of a Lady" gives the insight in to the life of Isabelle who wants to live by her own destiny and is hampered by her choices in life. Isabelle Archer is a penniless orphan who is taken in by her aunt Lydia Touchett. Touchett's are the wealthy of the New York strata and consists of the patriarch Touchett, a rich banker, Lydia his wife and their tubercular son Ralph. Ralph is a good natured young fellow and intervenes with his dad to make a provision for Isabelle in his will. As Mr. Touchett dies Isabelle comes in to her inheritance and becomes a wealthy women. While in New York she gets two marriage proposals, one by Casper Goodwood and another from Lord Warburton. Isabelle rejects them both and leaves with her aunt to Europe to see the world.



She meets Madam Merle and is taken up by the womans free spirit and aspires to have her bohemian outlook. Merle introduces her to Gilbert Osmond and he floors Isabelle with his good tastes and behavior. Isabelle marries Osmond and becomes a mother to his daughter Pansy. But after the marriage, Isabelle comes to know the horrific truth that Osmond had married her for her money. She also comes to know that Madam Merle is in fact Pansy's mother and she and Osmond had schemed to entrap her in the marriage.
Isabelle learns that her cousin Ralph is on his death bed and plans to reach him. Osmond forbids her journey to the States. But after pondering over the repercussions, Isabelle travels to the states to be with Ralph till his dying day. She again encounters Casper Goodwood who propose to her again. But Isabelle's sense of responsibility makes her turn him down again, and she returns to Osmond and Pansy in Europe.
This novel also deals with James's pet themes of the clashes between the European and American sensibilities. This novels also details the challenges faces by young Isabelle, about personal freedom, sexuality and sense of responsibility. I feel a little impatient with Isabelle when she turns down personal happiness for a warped feeling of responsibility to a man who has wronged her. But this novel gives us the morals and values prevalent in that bygone era where responsibility was deemed over happiness. Some parts of the novel are a bit tedious and meanders a lot. But all together a wonderful book.

Daisy Miller (published in 1878) - A classic written by Henry James

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 into 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 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.
Daisy Miller is a novella written by Henry James and presents the life of a pleasant coquette whose devil-may-care attitude may have been a shock to the strict Victorian society of the 18th century. This novel appeared in the Atlantic monthly in a serialized version and is treated as one of James's celebrated work.



Daisy Miller is a girl blooming to becoming a women and understanding men and the world. Her brother, Randolph Miller and herself move through Europe during their holidays. Randolph considers his hometown New York superior to others in all respects, but Daisy is eager for new experiences and immerses herself in the European culture. She meets the sophisticated Winterbourne who is taking a vacation from his studies.
Daisy like a spring flower is sprightly, attractive and lovely, and contrasts with Winterbourne's cold, dour reserve along with his class consciousness. His snobbish Aunt considers Daisy beneath her and forbids her acquaintance. Winterbourne considers Daisy's devil's may-care attitude outrageous and also disapproves of her flirtatiousness. But there is something about Daisy that Winterbourne cannot resist and he follows her to her final destination in Rome. They meet unexpectedly in Mrs. Walker's parlour. Daisy is totally unconcerned about local prejudices against American culture and becomes friends with everybody. Winterbourne understands her innocence and tries to extricate her from this predicament.
As their sojourn comes to an end Winterbourne sees Daisy with Giovanni at the Roman Colosseum. He warns her of the consequences of being a flirt, but Daisy does not care. But she soon contracts the “Roman Fever and dies shortly afterwards.
This book is full of symbolism about the culture clashes between the new order and the old world. Americans with their brashness and easy going nature perfectly contrast the class conscious monolithic European way of life. This war of the two worlds is epitomized in Daisy's attitude and Winterbourne's reserve. If you are a Henry James's fan Daisy Miller may soon pin you down with its multicolor canvas and people. Everybody stands out vividly in their mannerism and sense of values. For the uninitiated it is a bit tedious towards the middle, but still I would suggest you to keep at it as it is worth your while.

The Europeans by Henry James (published in 1878) - A short comedy novel

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.
The Europeans is the story of a brother and sister duo who are natural born Americans but are brought up in Europe. The two protagonists are Eugenia Munster and Felix Young, Americans who spend their formative years moving around different European capitals. Eugenia's sensibilities are essentially European and has contracted a morganatic marriage with Prince Adolf of Silberstadt-Schreckenstein, the younger brother of the reigning prince. Her husbands family urge him to dissolve the marriage and Eugenia travel to Boston with Felix. They stay with their uncle Wentworth, who has a son Clifford and daughters, Gertrude and Charlotte.
Felix is immediately captivated by the charming quaint Wentworth's and being an artist offers to make a portrait of Gertrude. Gertrude is engaged to marry Brand, a pastor for whom she can never have any feelings. She plans to go through the wedding just to please her father. Gertrude's sister Charlotte loves Brand but hides it for the same reason. This family has friends, the Actons who are the nouveau rich with Robert Acton being the inheritor of the monetary benefits. He has a invalid mother and a simple sister Lizzie. The Wentworth's are strictly puritanical and they spent a lot of time with the Actons.



Eugenia feels bored among these puritanical society, but is drawn out by Robert Acton. Robert starts falling for Eugenia and she tells him about her intentions to divorce the prince. Felix reprimands Gertrude for being puritanical and tells her that he loves her. Mr. Wentworth informs Felix that Clifford has been expelled from Harvard for improper behavior and Felix offers to tie him up with Eugenia. Soon Robert Acton and Clifford come clean of their intentions with Clifford announcing his love for Lizzie. Brand comes to know about Gertrude's love for Felix and offers to marry them both
Soon all the loose ends are tied up. Brand realizes Charlotte's love and marries her and Gertrude ties the knot with Felix. Clifford and Lizzie come together too. Eugenia in turn spurns Robert and sail to Europe leaving Robert heart broken. But he meets somebody nice after a year and starts life anew.
This book reminds me about Jane Austen's tangle of characters. But in a quirky departure, there are no tall dark handsome mysterious stranger's in Henry James's book. Eugenia is the strong lady who is ahead of time's and through her the author deftly denounces the puritan values of America. He presents a lady with a mind of her own with out being a slave to other's and this European Bohemian independence is celebrated.
A good book and a pleasant read.

Confidence (released in 1879) - Written by Henry James

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.

Washington Square (published in 1880) - Originally published as a short story by Henry James

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 in 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 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.
Washington Square is a tragi-comedy by Henry James which tells the relationships and conflicts between a father and his dutiful daughter. This short novel appeared as a monthly piece in the Corn-hill Magazine and Harper's New Monthly Magazine.
Dr. Austin Sloper is a widower who resents his plain daughter Catherine and still mourns the death of his wife and a brilliant son. He considers Catherine to be a dull and boring personality devoid of any personality. His house is maintained by his sister, widowed Lavinia Penniman who is a hardcore romanticist. She is a brash old thing who pokes her nose in to other's affairs.



Catherine meets Morris Townsend, a penniless gold digger who sweeps her off her feet. Townsend woos her and proposes marriage. Mrs. Penniman who loves romance and melodrama encourages and aides Townsend's actions. But Dr. Sloper sees through him and forbids Catherine to have any relationship with him. Townsend moves back to live with his sister and Sloper takes his daughter away.
Catherine, for all her waify ways has an iron will and she decides that she wouldn't not throw away her love on mere suspicion. She goes with her father on a twelve month grand tour of Europe. All through the journey Sloper mentions Townsend only twice signaling his contempt. His threat to disown Cathrine also does not have any effect on the girl.
On the final leg of the journey Slopper broaches the subject of Morris Townsend and Catherine firmly refuses to give him up. Her loyalty enrages him and he refers her derogatorily as a “pig fattened for slaughter”. This is the last straw for Catherine who has put up with his contemptuous behavior and she distances herself away from her father.
Upon her returns Catherine convinces Townsend about her loyalty and love, but he breaks off the relationship when he discovers that she has been cut off from Sloper's money. This breaks Catherine's heart which would never mend again. She rejects suitors and lovers as the injury despairs her soul. Dr. Sloper passes away with out leaving her all the money for the fear of Townsend making an appearance again. His suspicions are proved correct. Townsend indeed makes a return after a long time, smelling money. He tries to rekindle the relationship. But Catherine sees through his ploy and refuse to be led down the garden path again. At the end of the novel she picks up her life and resolves to live it as it unravels.
This novel was not very much liked by James and he had fought its inclusion in the New York Edition of his work. But it still proves one of Henry James's popular novels. Its breezy romance and the ever suffering heroine does evoke sympathy. It has all the ingredient of a tragic love story which brings a lump to your heart. Read it for its poignancy.