Henry James was born off Broadway, in Washington Place, New York, 1843, the second of five children. Henry's father, Henry James Sr. (q.v.), contrary to the Protestant work ethic that had brought him inherited wealth, preached a life of being rather than doing. He was reliant on his wife Mary who appeared both strong and selfless. His main activity was propounding his philosophical and social ideas for the spiritual and social improvement of mankind in numerous lectures, essays, writing in the press and informal advocacy; and travelling, often at short notice.
So the James children grew up on the move, on both sides of the Atlantic. Henry Jr. crossed it as a baby, for a stay of nearly two years, and then again at twelve, …
Citation: Campbell, Kate. "Henry James". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 June 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5083, accessed 22 January 2021.]
Articles on James' Works
- “The Altar of the Dead”
- “The Real Thing”
- A Small Boy and Others
- Daisy Miller
- Glasses
- In the Cage
- Italian Hours
- Julia Bride
- Notes of a Son and Brother
- Paste
- Roderick Hudson
- The Ambassadors
- The American Scene
- The Aspern Papers
- The Beast in the Jungle
- The Birthplace
- The Bostonians
- The Europeans
- The Figure in the Carpet
- The Golden Bowl
- The Jolly Corner
- The Lesson of the Master
- The Madonna of the Future and Other Tales
- The Middle Years
- The Portrait of a Lady
- The Private Life
- The Pupil
- The Sacred Fount
- The Sense of the Past
- The Tragic Muse
- The Turn of the Screw
- The Wings of the Dove
- Washington Square
- What Maisie Knew
- Within the Rim and Other Essays, 1914-1915
- View recommended reading for this article
- Extracts of texts by James