About the book
Women were hugely important to Henry James both in his vividly drawn female characters and in his relationships with female relatives and friends. Combining biography with literary criticism and theoretical inquiry Victoria Coulson explores James s relationships with three of the most important women in his life his friends the novelists Constance Fenimore Woolson and Edith Wharton and his sister Alice James who composed a significant diary in the last years of her life. These writers shared not only their attitudes to gender and sexuality but also their affinity for a certain form of literary representation which Coulson defines as ambivalent realism . The book draws on a diverse range of sources from fiction autobiography theatre reviews travel writing private journals and correspondence. Coulson argues compellingly that the personal lives and literary works of these four writers manifest a widespread cultural ambivalence about gender identity at the end of the nineteenth century.
Editions of Henry James, Women and Realism
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780521879811
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780521121743
Read an Excerpt
Women were hugely important to Henry James both in his vividly drawn female characters and in his relationships with female relatives and friends. Combining biography with literary criticism and theoretical inquiry Victoria Coulson explores James s relationships with three of the most important women in his life his friends the novelists Constance Fenimore Woolson and Edith Wharton and his sister Alice James who composed a significant diary in the last years of her life. These writers shared not only their attitudes to gender and sexuality but also their affinity for a certain form of literary representation which Coulson defines as ambivalent realism . The book draws on a diverse range of sources from fiction autobiography theatre reviews travel writing private journals and correspondence. Coulson argues compellingly that the personal lives and literary works of these four writers manifest a widespread cultural ambivalence about gender identity at the end of the nineteenth century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Henry James, Women and Realism about?
Women were hugely important to Henry James both in his vividly drawn female characters and in his relationships with female relatives and friends. Combining biography with literary criticism and theoretical inquiry Victoria Coulson explores James s relationships with three of the most important women in his life his friends the novelists Constance Fenimore Woolson and Edith Wharton and his sister Alice James who composed a significant diary in the last years of her life. These writers shared not only their attitudes to gender and sexuality but also their affinity for a certain form of literary representation which Coulson defines as ambivalent realism . The book draws on a diverse range of sources from fiction autobiography theatre reviews travel writing private journals and correspondence. Coulson argues compellingly that the personal lives and literary works of these four writers manifest a widespread cultural ambivalence about gender identity at the end of the nineteenth century.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Henry James, Women and Realism?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers
Where can I read a sample of Henry James, Women and Realism?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780521879811
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Henry James, Women and Realism?
Victoria Coulson
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Henry James, Women and Realism is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780521879811) and paperback(ISBN 9780521121743)