Henry James

Henry James was an American-born author, known for his significant contributions to literary fiction novels and stories. He was born on April 15, 1843, in New York City, to a well-off family. His father, Henry James Sr., was a theologian who valued education above all else, and this upbringing had a significant impact on James's life and work. James was the second of five children, and his siblings included the psychologist and philosopher William James and diarist Alice James.

James is primarily known for his series of major novels that portrayed the encounter of America with Europe. His works focused on personal relationships, the proper exercise of power in such relationships, and other moral questions. James's method of writing from the point of view of a character within a tale allowed him to explore the phenomena of consciousness and perception, and his style in later works has been compared to impressionist painting. His imaginative use of point of view, interior monologue, and unreliable narrators in his novels and tales brought a new depth and interest to realistic fiction and foreshadowed the modernist work of the twentieth century.

James was a prolific writer, and in addition to his many works of fiction, he published articles and books on a variety of topics, including travel writing, biography, autobiography, and criticism. He also wrote plays, some of which were performed during his lifetime with moderate success. His theatrical work is thought to have profoundly influenced his later novels and tales. James spent much of his life in England and became a British subject shortly before his death in London on February 28, 1916. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists in the English language and has published many important novels, including "Daisy Miller," "The Wings of the Dove," "The Golden Bowl," and "The Ambassadors."