Henry James

Date of Birth: April 15, 1843

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: February 28, 1916

Biography

Henry James was an American-British author regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. Born on April 15, 1843, in New York City, James was the second of five children of Henry James Sr., a social theorist and lecturer, and Mary Walsh James. His early education was primarily overseen by tutors and governesses, and he traveled extensively across Europe with his family, gaining a cosmopolitan perspective that would deeply influence his writing. James began his literary career in the early 1860s, contributing reviews and short stories to various magazines. His first novel, “Watch and Ward,” was serialized in the Atlantic Monthly in 1871. However, it was his later works, such as “The Portrait of a Lady” (1881), “The Wings of the Dove” (1902), and “The Ambassadors” (1903), that solidified his reputation as a master of psychological realism and complex character development. In 1876, James settled permanently in England, where he became a British subject in 1915, a year before his death. He maintained close relationships with other literary figures, including Edith Wharton and Joseph Conrad. James’s works often explored themes of consciousness, perception, and social dynamics, particularly between the Old World and the New World. James passed away on February 28, 1916, in Chelsea, London, leaving behind a legacy of profound literary influence and numerous works that continue to be studied and celebrated.

5 Interesting Facts about Henry James

1. Henry James was the brother of the famous philosopher and psychologist William James.

2. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times but never won.

3. James’s writing style is characterized by his intricate sentence structures and deep psychological insight.

4. He was a close friend of notable literary figures such as Edith Wharton and Joseph Conrad.

5. James became a British subject in 1915, the year before his death.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry James

1. “We work in the dark—we do what we can—we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.”

2. “The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life.”

3. “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”

4. “Sorrow comes in great waves… but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us, it leaves us on the spot and we know that if it is strong, we are stronger, inasmuch as it passes and we remain.”

5. “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Henry James achieved during his lifetime is not well-documented, but his literary estate has continued to be valued and influential long after his death.