Henry James Writes New York

This book offers the first full study of Henry James's relationship with, and literary treatment of, New York. It shows how the city, whether described in private or portrayed in fiction and non-fiction, always remained an essential component of James's identity. In particular, the analysis of his literary production reveals how, for all his cosmopolitanism and his move to England, James kept returning to his birthplace. New York compelled James to confront his status as an American-born male artist and his age's prevailing notions of gender, sexuality, class, citizenship, and, more generally, success. Tracing James's attachment to the city and its evolution over the course of his life, this book examines a comprehensive range of James's works, from his short stories and novels to his non-fiction writing.