Henry James
- Born:
- April 15, 1843, New York City, New York, USA
- Died:
- February 28, 1916, London, England
- Nationality:
- American (later British)
- Profession(s):
- Novelist, Short Story Writer, Playwright, Literary Critic
Early Life and Education
- Born into a wealthy and intellectually stimulating family. His father, Henry James Sr., was a prominent theologian.
- Received a cosmopolitan education, traveling extensively in Europe with his family during his formative years.
- Attended schools in New York, Geneva, London, Paris, and Bonn.
- Briefly studied law at Harvard Law School (1862-1863) but abandoned it for a literary career.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began publishing short stories and essays in the mid-1860s.
- Moved to Europe in 1869, initially residing in Italy and France, before settling in England in 1876.
- Became a leading figure in the realist movement, exploring themes of expatriation, cultural clashes, and psychological complexity.
- Experimented with narrative techniques, particularly stream of consciousness and unreliable narration.
- Naturalized as a British subject in 1915 as a gesture of support for Britain during World War I.
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Notable Works
- Novels:
- The American (1877)
- Daisy Miller (1878)
- The Portrait of a Lady (1881)
- The Bostonians (1886)
- The Princess Casamassima (1886)
- The Turn of the Screw (1898)
- The Wings of the Dove (1902)
- The Ambassadors (1903)
- The Golden Bowl (1904)
- Short Stories:
- The Beast in the Jungle
- The Jolly Corner
- Plays:
- Numerous plays, although he found limited success as a playwright.
- Essays and Literary Criticism:
- The Art of Fiction (1884)
Legacy and Impact
Henry James is recognized as one of the most important and influential novelists in the English language. His intricate prose, psychological depth, and exploration of complex social and moral issues have had a profound impact on subsequent generations of writers. His works continue to be studied and admired for their artistry and insight into the human condition.