Henry James Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of' Memoirs Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of The Dark Descent Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Henry James was an American writer who was the second child of Henry James, Sr. and Mary Walsh Robertson. His father Henry James Sr. was a son of an Irish immigrant who was very wealthy and to him education was the most important thing. Henry James was born on April 15, 1843, New York, U.S and died in London, England February 28, 1916. He had four siblings among them was the firstborn William James who was a psychologist and a pragmatist philosopher.

Henry James spent his childhood days living in New York before moving to abroad, where they were schooled by governesses and tutors who tutored them literature and languages. They traveled most of their years in Italy, England, Switzerland, Germany and France.

As a teenager, Henry James was a shy boy and addicted to reading books. He briefly enrolled to Harvard Law School at the age of 19 and by the time he was 20years he published his first story called A Tragedy of Error in 1864, it was about a wife who plotted to murder her husband but that resulted to the death of her secret lover.

Some of his other short stories and novels include The American (1877), The Europeans (1878), The Pension Beaurepas (1881) etc. In his mid-20s he was recognized as one of the most creative skillful short story writer in America. Henry James dedicated himself in writing book reviews, stories and articles for some years before he decided to attempt to write a novel.

His first novel was watch and ward (1871) which is about Roger Lawrence who decides to adopt 12year old Nora Lambert, after his father commits suicide in his hotel room. Roger adapts her since he feels remorse for refusing to give financial assistance to her father. Nora is not that pretty as a child but she grows up to be a beautiful lady. This is a generally touching story of lost love and unfulfilled lives, which is seen as you continue to read the ventures that Nora takes till she ends up in clutches. The novel was the start of Henry James success as a writer and went on till 28 February 1916 where he died of pneumonia after suffering from stroke a few months before his death. Henry James died as a bachelor and as a British citizen. He had lived in England for almost 40years and during his last years he became a British citizen in 1915, because he was very disappointed and unhappy with America when World War 1 broke out and America was reluctant to join the world war 1.

Henry James is mostly known for his famous works like The Portrait of a Lady (1881) and The Turn of the Screw (1898), Daisy Miller (1878), The Bostonians (1886) and The Ambassadors (1903).

The following are some famous books that Henry James wrote, that remain to be popular up to date.

The Portrait of a Lady (1881).

This novel is about a story of a young beautiful American woman called Isabel Archer. As the novel begins we see Isabel has two worthy suitors who are willing to marry her. Lord Warburton who is an aristocrat and he fascinates Isabel though she does not love him and does not feel inclined to him romantically. Then there is Caspar Goodwood whom Isabel is sought of drawn to but she fears that if she got married to him, she would not get her personal freedom. Therefore, she rejects these marriage proposals and decides to travel abroad to her extended family by the help of her rich Aunt called Touchett who takes her to Europe. She seeks to learn to be independent.

While in abroad she meets with Gilbert Osmond who is very charming. She finds herself so irresistibly drawn to him. Gilbert Osmond is an American art collector who lives in Florence. Isabel ends up getting married to him. Unfortunately, it is not a happy ever after marriage. You later on come to learn that Gilbert Osmond only married Isabel because of her inherited wealth left to her by her uncle. Gilbert Osmond and Madame Merle who lived in her uncle’s house, had plotted to steal her wealth which she inherited from her uncle. After their marriage Gilbert Osmond starts to treat her like she is nothing to him.

The book features decisions and challenges that Isabel has to face. The book is so catchy since it makes the reader to feel Isabel’s pain and makes us relate to some of the life experiences of love and betrayal that a reader may have faced at some point. Henry James realistically captures people’s lives with this book. Henry James concluded the first phase of his successful career with this novel The Portrait of a lady which till now is the most popular long fiction.

Daisy Miller (1878).

This is a classic story that is about a young wealthy confident American woman, who is likes having fun and does whatever pleases her. She travels to Europe with her young brother and her mother. She meets with Frederick Winterbourne who has been living in Geneva. Frederick Winterbourne finds her to be very attractive and is smitten by her beauty. Daisy Miller is always determined to do what she wants, whenever she wants to do it since she comes from a wealthy family. Daisy Miller is totally everything any woman from that time should not be; she loves attention, flirting and lots of entertainment. She is attracted to Mr. Giovanelli who is a singer/musician with no social standing. The story is set in Europe. Daisy miller’s life unfolds as the story goes on and everything ends up so badly for her.

Henry James brings in cultural differences, difference in the society class, and shows money cannot be able to buy everything. This makes the story even more interesting to read since you can automatically relate it to your life because it brings out various themes of innocence versus experience, cultural intersection, social relationships, Americans abroad and fate. This book made Henry James internationally famous and contributed to his success.

In conclusion, Henry James is mostly known for his themes of consciousness. He wrote a total of 22 novels including two which he died before finishing and 112 tales etc. His writing mostly mix characters that are from different worlds. Henry James novels are mostly about passionate plea for freedom, freedom of development and different cultures. Many of Henry James novels have been filmed in the 20th century by the team of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant.

2 Responses to “Henry James”

1. ray rickman: 2 years ago

   Did James write a book named — Judia Bride?

   Reply
   • Graeme: 2 years ago

     Not that I can see

     Reply