Henry James on Culture: Collected Essays on Politics and the American Social Scene

by Henry James, Pierre A. Walker

Overview

The eighteen essays in this collection show Henry James (1843–1916) in a new and unexpected light—as a political commentator and social reformer. His acute powers of observation, his unerring feel for social nuance, and his abiding interest in the news, conversations, and controversies of the moment make these essays a witty and entertaining illumination of American, British, European, and colonial society in the years from 1878 to 1917.

Included are writings on British politics and diplomacy, on the language and manners of Americans, on the possibility of an afterlife, and on the heroism and human costs of the First World War. Among the subjects that interest James are France’s infatuation with the Prince of Wales, the trumped-up excuses for war in Afghanistan, the brutal frankness of Bismarck, the parliamentary games of Gladstone and Disraeli, the rise of Zulu power in South Africa, the use of “yeah” and “yup” for the American affirmative, the fearlessness of American women and their immunity from criticism, the effect of chewing gum on the discussion of opera, the sufferings of Americans at the hands of store clerks, the proper degrees of gratitude for roadside bicycle repairs, the work of the American Volunteer Motor Ambulance Corps, the use of the dash, the tyranny of the newspapers, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the conditions in military hospitals.

Pierre A. Walker is a professor of English at Salem State College and co-general editor of The Complete Letters of Henry James (Nebraska 2006).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803276192
Publisher:	UNP - Bison Books
Publication date:	05/01/2004
Series:	Bison Book
Pages:	226
Product dimensions:	5.96(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.56(d)
Lexile:	1590L (what's this?)

About the Author

Pierre A. Walker is a professor of English at Salem State College and co-general editor of The Complete Letters of Henry James (Nebraska 2006).

Date of Birth:

April 15, 1843

Date of Death:

February 28, 1916

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Place of Death:

London, England

Education:

Attended school in France and Switzerland; Harvard Law School, 1862-63

Table of Contents

The eighteen essays in this collection show Henry James (1843-1916) in a new and unexpected light - as a political commentator and social reformer. His acute powers of observation, his unerring feel for social nuance, and his abiding interest in the news, conversations, and controversies of the moment make these essays a witty and entertaining illumination of American, British, European, and colonial society in the years from 1878-1917.

Editorial Reviews

“Adds new dimension to our understanding of this great author.”—Virginia Quarterly Review

Virginia Quarterly Review

A collection of 18 articles by novelist James on the social and political issues of his day. The essays explore such issues as the possibility of life after death; British imperial politics and crises in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and South Africa, questions of gender in the United States, and the meaning of World War I. The editors argue in the introduction that the essays should be understood as cultural criticism and should inform study of James as a writer. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews