The American
The American by Henry James, published by Oxford University Press on July 30, 2009, is a reissue of this classic work, spanning 400 pages in English. The narrative follows Christopher Newman, a wealthy American businessman who travels to Europe in search of a wife to complete his fortune. In Paris, he encounters Claire de Cintré, the daughter of an aristocratic family, and faces resistance from her family, particularly from her elder brother and their formidable mother, the Marquise. This story explores the clash between old-world values and new-world aspirations, weaving elements of comedy, tragedy, romance, and melodrama.
Readers will find a rich exploration of themes such as city life and psychological dynamics within the context of social class and desire. The novel delves into the complexities of relationships and societal expectations, presenting a fable of thwarted ambition and emotional conflict. This edition is part of the Oxford World’s Classics series, which has been committed to providing accessible literature while maintaining scholarly integrity, complete with expert introductions and helpful notes for further study.
Official synopsis Publisher
`You you a nun; you with your beauty defaced and your nature wasted you behind locks and bars! Never, never, if I can prevent it!’ A wealthy American man of business descends on Europe in search of a wife to make his fortune complete. In Paris Christopher Newman is introduced to Claire de Cintré, daughter of the ancient House of Bellegarde, and to Valentin, her charming young brother. His bid for Claire’s hand receives an icy welcome from the heads of the family, an elder brother and their formidable mother, the old Marquise. Can they stomach his manners for the sake of his dollars? Out of this classic collision between the old world and the new, James weaves a fable of thwarted desire that shifts between comedy, tragedy, romance and melodrama a fable which in the later version printed here takes on some of the subtleties associated with this greatest novels. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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