Henry James, The Ambassadors, 19 Quotes

A collection of quotes by Henry James, The Ambassadors, 19.

Henry James, an esteemed American novelist, was born on April 15, 1843, in New York City. He hailed from a well-established and intellectually-inclined family. His father, Henry James Sr., was a prominent theologian and lecturer, while his brother, William James, gained fame as a renowned philosopher and psychologist.

Growing up in a stimulating environment, Henry James developed a passion for literature and began writing at an early age. After receiving a private education in both the United States and Europe, he embarked upon a successful career as a writer. James is considered one of the pioneers of modernist literature with his profound psychological insights and intricate character analysis.

His literary masterpiece, "The Ambassadors," published in 1903, is a notable example of his distinct writing style. The novel portrays the journey of a middle-aged American protagonist named Lambert Strether, who travels from his homeland to Europe, primarily Paris, to rescue his young charge from a captivating relationship with a French woman. James intricately delves into Strether's changing perceptions, moral conflicts, and cultural differences, making "The Ambassadors" a brilliant exploration of human relationships and personal growth.

Henry James produced numerous other celebrated works, including "The Portrait of a Lady" (1881), "The Turn of the Screw" (1898), and "The Wings of the Dove" (1902). His writing, often characterized by its sophistication and refined style, made him one of the most influential figures in American literature. Henry James passed away on February 28, 1916, leaving behind an enduring legacy.

He had dropped upon a seat halfway down the nave and, again

He had dropped upon a seat halfway down the nave and, again in the museum mood, was trying with head thrown back and eyes aloft, to reconstitute a past, to reduce it in fact to the convenient terms of Victor Hugo, whom, a few days before, giving the rein for once in a way to the joy of life, he had purchased in seventy bound volumes, a miracle of cheapness, parted with, he was assured by the shopman, at the price of the red-and-gold alone. He looked, doubtless, while he played his eternal nippers over Gothic glooms, sufficiently rapt in reverence; but what his thought had finally bumped against was the question of where, among packed accumulations, so multiform a wedge would be able to enter..

Henry James, The Ambassadors, 19

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