The American

by Henry James

Overview

Leon Edel writes of this novel: "Behind its melodrama and its simple romance is the history of man's dream of better worlds, travel to strange lands, and marriage to high and noble ladies. At the same time the book reveals a deep affection for American innocence and a deep awareness that such innocence carries with it a fund of ignorance. Its novelty lay in its 'international' character, and it is spoken of as the first truly international novel."

Henry James was born into a distinguished New York family in 1843. From childhood his interests were more worldly and sophisticated than those held even by his peers. His eyes turned naturally to Europe, where he lived and wrote for a decade before settling in England in 1876.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781443441476
Publisher:	HarperCollins Canada
Publication date:	11/25/2014
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	448
File size:	467 KB

About the Author

Henry James (1843-1916), the son of the religious philosopher Henry James Sr. and brother of the psychologist and philosopher William James, published many important novels including Daisy Miller, The Wings of the Dove, The Golden Bowl, and The Ambassadors.

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

Editorial Reviews

A masterpiece of American romanticism in which James shows us his profound grasp of what he was ultimately to call ‘the Americo-European legend.’”

Leon Edel

The whole world was a rough place, as James would prove in fiction after fiction, brimming with pain and violence and darkness…One may see in The American his first great effort to take and give readers, in the largest sense of the words, the rough with the smooth.”

author of The Cambridge Companion to English Novel Adrian Poole

Adam Sims offers a solid narration of this classic novel, in which an American makes his way through the social complexities of Paris. The title character, Christopher Newman, has survived the American Civil War and made his own fortune; now all that remains is to experience the wider world and to find a suitable wife. Will his encounters in Paris provide him opportunities for both? Sims's voice is appealing and measured, clear and rich with the novel's nuances. His French accents are seamless, and the dialogue is realistic and easy to follow. Sims has the unique skill of voicing female characters without sounding forced, which is important here. The story may drag for some listeners, but this performance illuminates the novel's value. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile

Adam Sims offers a solid narration of this classic novel, in which an American makes his way through the social complexities of Paris. The title character, Christopher Newman, has survived the American Civil War and made his own fortune; now all that remains is to experience the wider world and to find a suitable wife. Will his encounters in Paris provide him opportunities for both? Sims's voice is appealing and measured, clear and rich with the novel's nuances. His French accents are seamless, and the dialogue is realistic and easy to follow. Sims has the unique skill of voicing female characters without sounding forced, which is important here. The story may drag for some listeners, but this performance illuminates the novel's value. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile