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The James Boys: A Novel Account of Four Desperate Brothers
A provocative and strikingly original new voice in fiction reinvents the historical novel–along with American history itself–in this wry “what if?” that merges and mashes up four of our most famous and infamous national icons.
Historian Otis Pease once remarked that the story of nineteenth-century America could be encompassed in the lives of the two sets of James brothers–W...more
Historian Otis Pease once remarked that the story of nineteenth-century America could be encompassed in the lives of the two sets of James brothers–W...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
June 17th 2008
by Random House
(first published 2008)
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(copied review) What if two of the most notorious outlaws of the 19th century--brothers Frank and Jesse James--were related to two of the era's greatest minds: novelist Henry James and his philosopher brother William? That's the premise of this thought-provoking and hilarious debut novel, which chronicles a year in the life of these disparate sets of siblings, beginning with a train robbery and careening through a flurry of madcap misadventures. Noting the high times and daring crimes in this im...more
A historical novel that pulls together two famous sets of James brothers (Jesse and Frank (outlaws) and Henry and William (psychologist/author)) into one unpredictable life. An entertaining read more for it's audacity than for plot or character development. I think this book would have been a lot more fun if I could have actually separated the real history from the fake.
Great premise...love the thought of Henry James as the long-lost brother of Frank and Jesse James...
Meleya
added it
Interesting concept but bit boring at times for me.
Lots of fun!
oh, so disappointing! a brilliant premise (the new england james' are secretly related to the outlaw james'), but actually pretty shallow. some funny moments, but these are outweighed, in the end, by pretty rampant sexism throughout. and did I mention the james-brothers-don-blackface scene? exactly as offensive as it sounds.
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This was a fun read - a fictionalized account written as non fiction. About what would happen if Henry James, Jesse James, William James and Frank James had actually been brothers. Funny, comical, and very wry, you will have fun with this if you've ever read Henry James or studied Wester history and the James gang.
This was AWESOME. It was like Lemony Snicket for adult academics. Beautifully constructed, fantastic use of vocabulary, and a terrifically witty spoof on academic writing. I loved it.
Erin Duffin
marked it as to-read
Bobbi
marked it as to-read
Kim
marked it as dnf
Rose
marked it as to-read
Norma
marked it as to-read
Megan
marked it as to-read
Malinda
marked it as to-read
Joseph
marked it as to-read
Diane
marked it as to-read
Katie
marked it as to-read
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