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The Short Stories of Henry James
A collection of short stories by Henry James, as selected by Clifton Fadiman.
Four meetings --
A bundle of letters --
Louisa Pallant --
The liar --
The real thing --
The pupil --
Brooksmith --
The middle years --
The altar of the dead --
"Europe" --
The great good place --
The tree of knowledge --
The tone of time --
Mrs. Medwin --
The birthplace --
The beast in the jungle --
The jolly corner.
Four meetings --
A bundle of letters --
Louisa Pallant --
The liar --
The real thing --
The pupil --
Brooksmith --
The middle years --
The altar of the dead --
"Europe" --
The great good place --
The tree of knowledge --
The tone of time --
Mrs. Medwin --
The birthplace --
The beast in the jungle --
The jolly corner.
644 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1902
7 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Henry James
4,679 books3,973 followersHenry James was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the son of Henry James Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James.
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."
He is best known for his novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between émigré Americans, the English, and continental Europeans, such as The Portrait of a Lady. His later works, such as The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl were increasingly experimental. In describing the internal states of mind and social dynamics of his characters, James often wrote in a style in which ambiguous or contradictory motives and impressions were overlaid or juxtaposed in the discussion of a character's psyche. For their unique ambiguity, as well as for other aspects of their composition, his late works have been compared to Impressionist painting.
His novella The Turn of the Screw has garnered a reputation as the most analysed and ambiguous ghost story in the English language and remains his most widely adapted work in other media. He wrote other highly regarded ghost stories, such as "The Jolly Corner".
James published articles and books of criticism, travel, biography, autobiography, and plays. Born in the United States, James largely relocated to Europe as a young man, and eventually settled in England, becoming a British citizen in 1915, a year before his death. James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916. Jorge Luis Borges said "I have visited some literatures of East and West; I have compiled an encyclopedic compendium of fantastic literature; I have translated Kafka, Melville, and Bloy; I know of no stranger work than that of Henry James."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 5, 2015
For those looking to somehow feast at the banquet of James' short stories without having to puzzle through the four massive volumes of his Collected Stories, this is a fabulous and intelligent collection (made by Clifton Fadiman in 1945).
October 23, 2020
James is not for everyone. One criticism of his work is that his characters are passionless. This isn't fair; while James doesn't deal well in these stories with romantic entanglements, at his best, his characters are powerful studies of desperation, the power of loss, alienation, and the desperate search for something to be passionate about.
August 8, 2020
Sorry, Antifa/leftist Democrat professors: no one can ever “cancel” these masterly short stories.
Before I drag myself through a batch of feeble contemporary abortion and euthanasia novels written by activists (aka high-strung leftist Democrats who are hostile to Judaism, Christianity, pro-life President Trump, and the United States), I wanted to spend some time reading quality work from a master of fiction. Henry James (like Charles Dickens and other dead white males “cancelled” by ignorant professors who put politics before great literature) meets that criterion.
James’ flaws for the twenty-first century reader could be numerous, but here are two, evident in this anthology. Yes, James’ prose is indeed difficult because the syntax is tortured, but his writing can be untangled by the teaching of grammar in elementary schools, as Catholic and other private schools continue to do. Yes, James’ characters occupy Wall Street and Europe in a much different way than the Antifa domestic terrorists occupy Wall Street or poor Portland, Oregon and other cities controlled by useless Democratic politicians. Unless one is independently wealthy, one may not be able to identify with most of his characters’ wealth.
Of course, if James’ short stories frustrate a reader more than please and educate him or her, then maybe that reader was taught in public schools controlled by teacher unions.
I say break out of the ignorance forced down your throats and consider other aspects instead. If you want a cast of characters who will stick with you, even if the details of every short story become dim, and who may teach something to arrogant Americans of the twenty-first century, then keep reading.
Miss Spencer in “Four Meetings” is an admonition that no one should become a pushover.
The Nazi-like ideology of Dr. Staub in “A Bundle of Letters” will justify every pro-lifer’s work against the racist, dehumanizing ideology of those who think their “race” is better than others or, worse, those who follow the eugenic ideology of the abortion business Planned Parenthood.
Your heart will feel great sorrow for the nephew in “Louisa Pallant”, who fell in love with a young woman who only wanted his money.
Colonel Capadose, liar supreme in “The Liar”, will sound like everybody’s favorite relative who lies like a rug—or like our great contemporary liars, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden.
Sympathy arises for the Monarchs, who delude themselves into thinking they’re better than other models in “The Real Thing.”
“The Pupil” is a wonderful counter to those who think that every male-male friendship must ineluctably lead to self-centered genital activity (how well James understood men’s emotions!).
Brooksmith in the story bearing his name will make you yearn for a cultivated society of intellectuals instead of the leftist garbage attacking conservatives and pro-lifers on Facebook and Twitter.
Dencombe in “The Middle Years” is every writer’s wish: to have a reader not only read, but also honor his or her work, especially when one approaches death.
Catholics will immediately recognize in “The Altar of the Dead” a bent in James not usually broached in his work: a respect and love for the faithful departed, signified by votive candles offered for the repose of their souls.
“’Europe’” (internal quotes in original) shows how the attraction of the mother continent (for those of us hailing from a European heritage) proved disastrous for some New England WASPs.
Substituting the books and paper material that overwhelm George Dane with the emails, tweets, and useless scholarly articles that clutter our 2020 lives, “The Great Good Place” demonstrates what Catholics have long known: retreat houses are essential for human life.
Lance is a pitiful wretch in “The Tree of Knowledge” who must squelch the fact that his father is a loser supreme, like, in our day, Hunter Biden looking at his father, Joe Biden.
“The Tone of Time” indicts men who use women as their romantic toys instead of their sisters in Christ (how well James understood women’s emotions!).
Scott in “Mrs. Medwin” is a loafer/sponge/succubus whom every guy would like to smack the crap out of (get a job already, punk).
Morris Gedge in “The Birthplace” makes me wonder how many of my colleagues have swallowed the corporate or the academic line just to keep their jobs.
It’s hard not to classify John Marcher as an ass supreme since he is not able to perceive the love that May Bartram has for him in “The Beast in the Jungle.”
Finally, I don’t think anybody can read “The Jolly Corner” and then walk down three flights of stairs in a dark house after midnight (save this story for Halloween).
Clifton Fadiman’s brief commentaries after each story are mellifluous and as enlightening for the more lugubrious tales for us in 2020 as they must have been when they were first supplied in 1945.
These stories are well worth the week necessary to delve into them. One hopes that twenty-first century readers can ignore ridiculous and biased social media “services” like Facebook and Twitter for that time to enjoy great literature.
Before I drag myself through a batch of feeble contemporary abortion and euthanasia novels written by activists (aka high-strung leftist Democrats who are hostile to Judaism, Christianity, pro-life President Trump, and the United States), I wanted to spend some time reading quality work from a master of fiction. Henry James (like Charles Dickens and other dead white males “cancelled” by ignorant professors who put politics before great literature) meets that criterion.
James’ flaws for the twenty-first century reader could be numerous, but here are two, evident in this anthology. Yes, James’ prose is indeed difficult because the syntax is tortured, but his writing can be untangled by the teaching of grammar in elementary schools, as Catholic and other private schools continue to do. Yes, James’ characters occupy Wall Street and Europe in a much different way than the Antifa domestic terrorists occupy Wall Street or poor Portland, Oregon and other cities controlled by useless Democratic politicians. Unless one is independently wealthy, one may not be able to identify with most of his characters’ wealth.
Of course, if James’ short stories frustrate a reader more than please and educate him or her, then maybe that reader was taught in public schools controlled by teacher unions.
I say break out of the ignorance forced down your throats and consider other aspects instead. If you want a cast of characters who will stick with you, even if the details of every short story become dim, and who may teach something to arrogant Americans of the twenty-first century, then keep reading.
Miss Spencer in “Four Meetings” is an admonition that no one should become a pushover.
The Nazi-like ideology of Dr. Staub in “A Bundle of Letters” will justify every pro-lifer’s work against the racist, dehumanizing ideology of those who think their “race” is better than others or, worse, those who follow the eugenic ideology of the abortion business Planned Parenthood.
Your heart will feel great sorrow for the nephew in “Louisa Pallant”, who fell in love with a young woman who only wanted his money.
Colonel Capadose, liar supreme in “The Liar”, will sound like everybody’s favorite relative who lies like a rug—or like our great contemporary liars, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden.
Sympathy arises for the Monarchs, who delude themselves into thinking they’re better than other models in “The Real Thing.”
“The Pupil” is a wonderful counter to those who think that every male-male friendship must ineluctably lead to self-centered genital activity (how well James understood men’s emotions!).
Brooksmith in the story bearing his name will make you yearn for a cultivated society of intellectuals instead of the leftist garbage attacking conservatives and pro-lifers on Facebook and Twitter.
Dencombe in “The Middle Years” is every writer’s wish: to have a reader not only read, but also honor his or her work, especially when one approaches death.
Catholics will immediately recognize in “The Altar of the Dead” a bent in James not usually broached in his work: a respect and love for the faithful departed, signified by votive candles offered for the repose of their souls.
“’Europe’” (internal quotes in original) shows how the attraction of the mother continent (for those of us hailing from a European heritage) proved disastrous for some New England WASPs.
Substituting the books and paper material that overwhelm George Dane with the emails, tweets, and useless scholarly articles that clutter our 2020 lives, “The Great Good Place” demonstrates what Catholics have long known: retreat houses are essential for human life.
Lance is a pitiful wretch in “The Tree of Knowledge” who must squelch the fact that his father is a loser supreme, like, in our day, Hunter Biden looking at his father, Joe Biden.
“The Tone of Time” indicts men who use women as their romantic toys instead of their sisters in Christ (how well James understood women’s emotions!).
Scott in “Mrs. Medwin” is a loafer/sponge/succubus whom every guy would like to smack the crap out of (get a job already, punk).
Morris Gedge in “The Birthplace” makes me wonder how many of my colleagues have swallowed the corporate or the academic line just to keep their jobs.
It’s hard not to classify John Marcher as an ass supreme since he is not able to perceive the love that May Bartram has for him in “The Beast in the Jungle.”
Finally, I don’t think anybody can read “The Jolly Corner” and then walk down three flights of stairs in a dark house after midnight (save this story for Halloween).
Clifton Fadiman’s brief commentaries after each story are mellifluous and as enlightening for the more lugubrious tales for us in 2020 as they must have been when they were first supplied in 1945.
These stories are well worth the week necessary to delve into them. One hopes that twenty-first century readers can ignore ridiculous and biased social media “services” like Facebook and Twitter for that time to enjoy great literature.
April 18, 2025
I love stories about Edwardian life and these do not disappoint!
June 30, 2014
A thinking man's short story author, James is difficult reading. He exercises your brain. When you come away from him, you may wonder, "What's the point of this story? So what?" or "His characters are so flat!" True. But there is something about him that eventually leaves a mark. You realize that he may not be a great or popular author, but he certainly is a true writer. Yes, he takes an awfully long time to say something, but it is in his word choice that makes you like him after all.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews