Concetti Chiave
- Henry James, although American-born, is renowned for his European soul, often contrasting American ideals with European society in his works.
- Born in New York in 1843, James grew up in a cultured family, with a psychologist and philosopher brother, and briefly attended Harvard Law School before focusing on writing.
- He gained early recognition as a leading short story writer in America, and his travels to Europe, especially Italy, profoundly influenced his literary settings.
- In 1876, James chose to settle in England, drawn by European culture, and maintained connections with the continent, despite returning to America only twice.
- Dedicated to his art, James produced a vast body of work, including novels, short stories, essays, and travel books, and passed away in London in 1916.
Henry James (1843-1916)
What does it mean to say Henry James had a European Soul?
Henry James, though American born, was the most famous European writer in his soul and in his art. His first theme was the study of the American people, eager for knowledge and self-fulfillment, so different from the conventional
and often corrupt European society. In his mature phase he studied the individual mind, trying to penetrate the inner development of a character. The author stands apart, while the unfolding of a personality is seen from
different perspective , from different points of view.
Early Years and Education
Henry James was born in New York City on April 15, 1843, in a house of Washington Square , a rich and respectable area of the town. His father was a cultured man, his elder brother William was a psychologist and philosopher. He spent his early years and boyhood in the United States , with several sojourns in Europe. He attended the Harvard Law School for a short period, but soon gave it up, devoting himself to writing.
Literary Career and Travels
At first he wrote short stories for magazines and reviews; when he was only 25 he was considered the best short story writer in America. In 1870 he revisited Europe and went for the first time to Italy, which provides the setting for many of his novels. Back from Europe he lived in Boston for two years (1870-72) , but in 1872 he returned to Europe, where he
remained , living mostly in Italy, until 1874.
Choice of Europe
In 1875 he returned to New York, but the rich European culture attracted him so deeply that in the same year he realized that Europe was the place his mind and soul had chosen. In a personal memorandum in 1881 he wrote: "I have
made my choice and God knows that I have no time to waste". His choice was England, where he settled in 1876, with periodic trips to Europe (France and Italy ). He returned to america only twice in 1881 an in 1904 , but all his
friends were now in the sophisticated European world, with its old traditions ,its love of art and culture, its refined though sometimes corrupt and ambiguous way of life.
He never married ; he was not interested in the social changes of his time or in public affairs. He only cared for his art and wrote 20 full-length novels, about a dozen short novels, more than one hundred short stories, travel
books , essays, and two volumes of autobiography. He died in London on February 28th 1916. At first his ashes were taken to America, but they were later removed to London and buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, London.
Domande da interrogazione
- What was Henry James's primary theme in his early literary works?
- How did Henry James's upbringing influence his literary career?
- Why did Henry James choose to settle in Europe, particularly England?
- What was Henry James's focus during his mature literary phase?
Henry James's primary theme in his early works was the study of American people, focusing on their eagerness for knowledge and self-fulfillment, contrasting them with the conventional and often corrupt European society.
Henry James was born into a cultured family in New York City, with a father who valued education and an elder brother who was a psychologist and philosopher. His early years included several sojourns in Europe, which influenced his decision to devote himself to writing after a brief stint at Harvard Law School.
Henry James was deeply attracted to the rich European culture, which he felt resonated with his mind and soul. He settled in England in 1876, drawn by its old traditions, love of art and culture, and the sophisticated European world, despite its sometimes corrupt and ambiguous way of life.
In his mature phase, Henry James focused on studying the individual mind, aiming to penetrate the inner development of a character. He employed a narrative style that presented the unfolding of a personality from different perspectives and points of view.
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