One of the primary representatives of literary realism in the 19th century was American author by the name of Henry James. He used to frequently explore the issue of Americans encountering Europe and Europeans in his writings because he had lived in Britain for a number of years. He explored the issues of morality, feminism, and personal freedom in his work while also being known for his creative use of point of view, interior monologue, and unreliable narrators. He was exposed to scientific and philosophical ideas at a young age because he was a speaker and philosopher’s kid. As a young child, he had visited locations like London, Paris, Geneva, Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Newport, Rhode Island with his family, who were also avid travelers. When he was older, he briefly attended Harvard Law School before leaving because he realized that a legal career was not what he intended to do. After starting to write, he quickly received widespread acclaim for his well-crafted novels. He drew inspiration for his writing from authors like Charles Dickens, Honore de Balzac, Henrik Ibsen, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose writing he passionately liked. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times and made a substantial contribution to literary criticism.
Early Childhood & Life
Henry James was born to Mary Walsh and Henry James, Sr. on April 15, 1843, in New York City, United States. His father was a philosopher and lecturer who had a keen interest in learning. Henry has a sister and three brothers.
From an early age, he was exposed to philosophical and scientific ideas. He traveled extensively with his family at his side, stopping in at places like London, Paris, Geneva, Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Newport, Rhode Island. While the family was traveling throughout Europe, Henry attended a few schools and mostly acquired his education from tutors.
In 1860, the family moved back to New Port. Henry had a friend in painter John La Farge at this time, who also introduced him to French literature, particularly Balzac’s works.
He made the decision to go into law and enrolled at Harvard Law School at the age of 19. However, he quickly understood that literature, not law, was what he was truly interested in. He read Henrik Ibsen, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Balzac instead of concentrating on his academics.
Henry James’s Career
Henry James started out as a writer by penning short stories, book reviews, and articles. When he was in his early twenties, his first short story was published anonymously in the “New York Continental Monthly” and his first book reviews were published in the “North American Review.”
He quickly made a name for himself as one of America’s best short story writers. After leaving America, he stayed in Paris, France, for a while before relocating to London, England, in 1876. His prolific writing continued, and he published works of literature like “The American” (1877), “The Europeans” (1878), a revised version of “Watch and Ward,” “French Poets and Novelists” (1878), and “Hawthorne” (1879).
His novel “The Portrait of a Lady,” which had previously been serialized in “The Atlantic Monthly” and “Macmillan’s Magazine,” was released in 1881. The story centers on Isabel Archer, a determined young American lady who inherits a sizable sum of money and later falls prey to two American expats’ deceit. Critics consider it to be one of his best pieces of writing.
In the 1880s, he wrote two books about social reformers and revolutionaries. Princess Casamassima, also published in 1886, tells the tale of a bookbinder who gets embroiled in radical politics and a terrorist assassination plan. “The Bostonians,” another bittersweet tragicomedy, deals with political activists and the feminist movement.
James was a well-known playwright and literary critic. He turned his book “The American” into a play in 1891, which had some success. He has produced a few other plays, the majority of which were never presented. Despite being a well-known novelist, he struggled to find success as a dramatist, and he was quite saddened by this.
The start of the 20th century was the pinnacle of his professional career. He released the book “The Wings of the Dove” in 1902, which tells the tale of Milly Theale, an American heiress who suffers from a debilitating illness. The books “The Ambassadors” (1903) and “The Golden Bowl” came after this one (1904). These three novels have all been the subject of extensive critical analysis.
Henry’s Bigger Works
The adventures and misadventures of Christopher Newman, an American businessman on his first tour of Europe, were the focus of his novel “The American,” which was first published as a serial in “The Atlantic Monthly.” The book was also successfully adapted into a play.
The Portrait of a Lady, the most well-known work by Henry James, tells the tale of Isabel Archer, a determined young American woman who inherits a huge sum of money and is duped by two cunning American exiles. The novel examines issues of individual autonomy, accountability, and betrayal.
Another of his best-known works is “Daisy Miller,” a novella that describes the courting of the stunning American girl Daisy Miller by the clever man Winterbourne. Numerous symbolisms and allegories are present in the piece, which acts as a psychological analysis of a young woman’s mind.
Recognition & Achievements
Henry James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times during his career (1911, 1912, and 1916).
In 1916, he received the Order of Merit.
Personal Legacy & Life
James never got married. According to some stories, he previously had feelings for his cousin Mary Temple, who passed away from disease. The likelihood that James was gay is another topic of contention among historians.
He acquired English citizenship in 1915 after several years spent residing in Britain. In Chelsea, London, on February 28, 1916, he passed away.
Estimated Net Worth
One of the wealthiest and most well-known novelists is Henry James. Henry James’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million based on our analysis of data from sources including Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.