Book Description
Throughout his writing life, Henry James was drawn to the short-story form for the freedom it offered him-and he made the genre his own. This new selection comprises both brief tales and longer works that explore James's concerns with the old world and the new, and with money, fame, class, and art. "Daisy Miller," "The Lesson of the Master," "The Real Thing," "The Figure in the Carpet," "In the Cage," "The Beast in the Jungle," and "The Jolly Corner" are included here, along with twelve others. Haunting, witty, and beautifully drawn, these stories are as rich and resonant as James's novels.
Edited with an introduction by John Lyon.
From the Publisher
Founded in 1906 by J.M. Dent, the Everyman Library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. Unique editorial features that help Everyman Paperback Classics stand out from the crowd include: a leading scholar or literary critic's introduction to the text, a biography of the author, a chronology of her or his life and times, a historical selection of criticism, and a concise plot summary. All books published since 1993 have also been completely restyled: all type has been reset, to offer a clarity and ease of reading unique among editions of the classics; a vibrant, full-color cover design now complements these great texts with beautiful contemporary works of art. But the best feature must be Everyman's uniquely low price. Each Everyman title offers these extensive materials at a price that competes with the most inexpensive editions on the market-but Everyman Paperbacks have durable binding, quality paper, and the highest editorial and scholarly standards.
About the Author
Henry James (1843-1916) was born in New York City. In 1865, he began writing reviews and stories for American journals. 1875 found him settled in Paris, then London, where he was very popular in society. He became a British citizen in 1915.
Selected Tales FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Throughout his writing life Henry James was drawn to the short story form for the freedom it offered him. From brief tales to longer stories - the 'blessed nouvelle' - he made the genre his own." The nineteen stories in this new selection span James's career, ranging from more familiar pieces, such as 'Daisy Miller', the work that first brought him fame, to those less well-known, all exploring his concerns with the old world and the new, money, fame and art. In 'The Real Thing', a refined but impoverished husband and wife pose as an artist's models; in 'The Birthplace', a Stratford tour guide embellishes the Shakespeare legend; and in the late masterpiece 'The Jolly Corner', an elderly American returns from Europe to New York and encounters a strange apparition. Perhaps 'In the Cage' represents James at his finest, exploring class and communication, poverty and imagination. Haunting, witty and beautifully drawn, James's tales are as rich and resonant as his novels.