Henry James

When Henry James - The Critical Biography was published in 1916, the first book by novelist, and journalist Rebecca West, literary critics were offended that a 20-something year-old woman would feel entitled to criticize one of the century’s literary masters, particularly because he had only passed away a few months prior.

Setting the standard for a century’s worth of criticism, Rebecca West diagnosed Henry James as an American who “could never feel at home until he was in exile.”

West boldly assesses Roderick Hudson as “certainly not a good book,” and displays remarkable foresight in describing Daisy Miller as a “sad and lovely” book that “will strike each new generation afresh.”

HENRY JAMES (1843-1916) was an American novelist, playwright, biographer and critic. He is considered one of the finest writers of his time, his masterworks including The American, The Turn of the Screw, Daisy Miller, The Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove, and The Aspern Papers.

REBECCA WEST (1892-1983) was an English author, journalist, and critic. A prolific author who wrote in many genres, West was committed to feminist and liberal principles and was one of the foremost public intellectuals of the twentieth century. Born Cicely Isabel Fairfield, she has since become legendary, not only as an outspoken feminist and mistress of H.G. Wells, but also as the prolific author of novels like The Return of the Soldier, which helped to define an era. By 1947, West was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, and the story hailed her as "indisputably the world's No. 1 woman writer."