Henry James biography

Henry James was a titan of transatlantic literature, renowned for his psychological depth and the intricate, sophisticated style of his later works. Born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family - his brother was the famed philosopher William James - Henry spent much of his youth travelling between America and Europe. This "cosmopolitan" upbringing became the cornerstone of his fiction, which frequently explored the cultural clashes between innocent Americans and worldly, sophisticated Europeans.

In 1876, James settled permanently in London, eventually becoming a British citizen toward the end of his life. His career is often divided into three periods. His early masterpieces, such as Daisy Miller (1878) and The Portrait of a Lady (1881), focused on the "International Theme." His middle period saw a shift toward experimental techniques and ghost stories, most notably the chilling novella The Turn of the Screw (1898). His final "Major Phase" produced dense, complex novels like The Ambassadors and The Golden Bowl.

Nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times, James is considered a key figure in the transition from Realism to Modernism. He died in London in 1916, leaving behind a legacy as the "Master" of the psychological novel.

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