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Set in New York City in the 1840s, this celebrated novel tells the story of Catherine Sloper, the docile and affectionate daughter of a well-to-do physician, who appears destined for a lifetime of spinsterhood with only the companionship of her sardonic father and fatuous aunt.When a flurry of attention from an attractive suitor causes the plain and unremarkable Catherine to fall deeply in love, the stage is set for a struggle of opposing wills between Catherine and her adored father. Dismayed by his prospective son-in-law's shallowness and lack of prospects, and strongly suspecting him of fortune-hunting, Dr. Sloper threatens Catherine with disinheritance and forces her into a choice between father and lover. As the tale unfolds, James explores, with acute psychological penetration and masterly storytelling skill, the moral consequences of the callous exploitation of trust and the ruthless manipulation of a tender heart.While this memorable story plays itself out in the vanished world of nineteenth-century New York, its underlying themes and moral concerns are timeless and universal. Students and other lovers of great literature will appreciate this inexpensive edition of one of the great American novels.

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Widely recognized as one of literature's most gripping ghost stories, this classic tale of moral degradation concerns the sinister transformation of two innocent children into flagrant liars and hypocrites. The story begins when a governess arrives at an English country estate to look after Miles, aged ten, and Flora, eight. At first, everything appears normal but then events gradually begin to weave a spell of psychological terror.One night a ghost appears before the governess. It is the dead lover of Miss Jessel, the former governess. Later, the ghost of Miss Jessel herself appears before the governess and the little girl. Moreover, both the governess and the housekeeper suspect that the two spirits have appeared to the boy in private. The children, however, adamantly refuse to acknowledge the presence of the two spirits, in spite of indications that there is some sort of evil communication going on between the children and the ghosts.Without resorting to clattering chains, demonic noises, and other melodramatic techniques, this elegantly told tale succeeds in creating an atmosphere of tingling suspense and unspoken horror matched by few other books in the genre. Known for his probing psychological novels dealing with the upper classes, James in this story tried his hand at the occult — and created a masterpiece of the supernatural that has frightened and delighted readers for nearly a century.

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Isabel Archer, a young American, accompanies her eccentric aunt to Europe, where her wit and beauty — in addition to her substantial inheritance — quickly attract all manner of eager suitors. But beneath the romantic elegance of salons and ballrooms lies a tangle of treachery, deceit, and suffering.The most enduringly popular of Henry James' novels, The Portrait of a Lady reflects the author's interest in the contrast between the Old and New Worlds. He traces Isabel's progress across England, Paris, Florence, and Rome with trenchant observations on customs and attitudes. The heroine's difficulties in reconciling her personal liberty with social propriety express James' shrewd appraisals of the naivete and nobility of the American character, as well as his views on the subtle refinements and conventionality of European culture. A gripping exploration of the clash between freedom and responsibility, this novel offers an accessible entree into the work of Henry James.

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Daisy Miller is a fascinating portrait of a young woman from Schenectady, New York, who, traveling in Europe, runs afoul of the socially pretentious American expatriate community in Rome. First published in 1878, the novella brought American novelist Henry James (1843–1916), then living in London, his first international success. Like many of James' early works, it portrays a venturesome American girl in the treacherous waters of European society — a theme that would culminate in his 1881 masterpiece, The Portrait of a Lady.On the surface, Daisy Miller unfolds a simple story of a young American girl's willful yet innocent flirtation with a young Italian, and its unfortunate consequences. But throughout the narrative, James contrasts American customs and values with European manners and morals in a tale rich in psychological and social insight. A vivid portrayal of Americans abroad and a telling encounter between the values of the Old and New World, Daisy Miller is an ideal introduction to the work of one of America's greatest writers of fiction.

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"Live all you can; it's a mistake not to," declares the primary «ambassador» of this 1903 novel, adding, «It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven't had that, what have you had?»In this complex tale of self-discovery, Henry James invokes his favorite theme: the clash of American innocence with European experience. It traces the path of an aging idealist, Lambert Strether, who arrives in Paris intending to persuade his young charge to abandon an obsession with a French woman and return home. Once abroad, however, Strether arrives at unexpected conclusions. Henry James regarded The Ambassadors as his finest work. Astute, humorous, and intelligent, this masterpiece from the pinnacle of the author's long and brilliant career remains ever vital.

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Here are three superb stories by one of America's finest writers of fiction. Henry James is best known for his many brilliant novels, among them The Bostonians, The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove, The Golden Bowl, and his masterpiece, Portrait of a Lady. But he is deeply admired for his stories as well, which perhaps even more pointedly reveal the extraordinary subtleties of his art.That art is nowhere more evident than in «The Beast in the Jungle,» regarded by many as James's greatest achievement in short fiction. It is a gripping portrait of a man alienated from life and love, haunted and obsessed by his fears. James's uncanny ability to communicate the inner lives of his characters is also richly evident in «The Jolly Corner» and «The Altar of the Dead,» two superbly crafted tales that explore the complex interlacings of loss, love, and the ever-present past in the lives of their protagonists.

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Henry James's «The Portrait of a Lady» is the story of American Isabel Archer who after inheriting a large sum of money falls victim to the scheming of two American expatriates, Gilbert Osmond and Madame Merle. Originally serialized in «The Atlantic Monthly» between 1880-1881, «The Portrait of a Lady» is the story of a free-spirited woman who affronts her destiny and in so doing ironically loses the freedom that she cherishes.

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This collection of Henry James's shorter works brings together some of his most famous works including «The Turn of the Screw», «Daisy Miller», and «The Aspern Papers». In addition to these works you will find the following tales: «Four Meetings», «In the Cage», «Owen Wingrave», «Pandora», «Sir Edmund Orme», «The Altar of the Dead», «The Beast in the Jungle», «The Death of the Lion», «The Friends of the Friends», «The Jolly Corner», «The Middle Years», «The Patagonia», and «The Private Life». «The Best Short Stories and Novellas of Henry James» is over 400 pages of the author's best shorter fiction.

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"The Spoils of Poynton" is the tale of the widow Adela Gereth, an iron-willed woman of impeccable taste, and her conflicts with her son Owen over the antique furniture and art in the family home of Poynton. Told from the perspective of Fleda Vetch, a young woman caught between her love for Owen, who is engaged to another, and her concern for Mrs. Gereth. Originally serialized in «The Atlantic Monthly» in 1896 «The Spoils of Poynton» is ultimately a tragic tale of materialism.

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Henry James (1843-1916) was an America-born English writer whose novels, short stories and letters established the foundation of the modernist movement in twentieth century fiction and poetry. His career, one of the most significant and influential in English literature, spanned over five decades and resulted in a body of work that has had a profound impact on generations of writers. Born in New York, but educated in France, Germany, England and Switzerland, James often explored the cultural discord between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (United States) in his writings. Included in this eighth volume of «The Complete Tales of Henry James» are the following stories: «Brooksmith,» «The Marriages,» «The Chaperon,» «Sir Edmund Orme,» «Nona Vincent,» «The Private Life,» «The Real Thing,» «Lord Beaupré,» «The Visits,» «Sir Dominick Ferrand,» «Collaboration,» «Greville Fane,» and «The Wheel of Time.»

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