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Monopolizing the Master: Henry James and the Politics of Modern Literary Scholarship
Henry James defied posterity to disturb his he was adamant that his legacy be based exclusively on his publications and that his private life and writings remain forever private. Despite this, almost immediately after his death in 1916 an intense struggle began among his family and his literary disciples to control his posthumous reputation, a struggle that was continued by later generations of critics and biographers. Monopolizing the Master gives a blow-by-blow account of this conflict, which aroused intense feelings of jealousy, suspicion, and proprietorship among those who claimed to be the just custodians of James's literary legacy. With an unprecedented amount of new evidence now available, Michael Anesko reveals the remarkable social, political, and sexual intrigue that inspired―and influenced―the deliberate construction of the Legend of the Master.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 20, 2025
I've been reading Henry James since around 2000. Not quite a completist. Have read all his novels. Still need to finish up the short stories. Got some publications of his non-fiction works. Unlikely to get around to the plays he wrote.
Have heard about his life, but didn't have a great interest in learning more. I don't get into the dirt about the sex and private lives of living authors that I favor. Dead ones are the same way.
But I'm going through a phase of reading non-fiction, and this was on my shelf. I'll probably soon read Leon Edel's "Henry James - A Life". But I'll need as I read it to separate the writer (Edel), from the work.
Anesko's book dishes the dirt not only on the family, and how they protected James and his works. But also other players like Edel, who doesn't come off in a good light.
Much like how I became interested in James' works, reading this book makes me want to look into other authors. H.G. Wells for one. I'll be checking out his non sci-fi books.
One thing that leapt out at me while reading this book was "How many of James' works were self fulfilling prophesies?" There are several stories about interest in an author's works after their death. Which is what "Monopolizing the Master" is all about.
One thing I'm curious about was how Henry James fell out of favor with the reading public. Much from the claim that he only wrote about the upper and middle class. Not entirely true. In any case, if people didn't like reading about the well-to-do, there must of been other authors and books that were about people in lower stations in life. They could have had a variety of what they read, and read James as well as other authors. Much like today. Maybe it's just me, but often I have gone from reading a classic, to reading a more contemporary author.
Have heard about his life, but didn't have a great interest in learning more. I don't get into the dirt about the sex and private lives of living authors that I favor. Dead ones are the same way.
But I'm going through a phase of reading non-fiction, and this was on my shelf. I'll probably soon read Leon Edel's "Henry James - A Life". But I'll need as I read it to separate the writer (Edel), from the work.
Anesko's book dishes the dirt not only on the family, and how they protected James and his works. But also other players like Edel, who doesn't come off in a good light.
Much like how I became interested in James' works, reading this book makes me want to look into other authors. H.G. Wells for one. I'll be checking out his non sci-fi books.
One thing that leapt out at me while reading this book was "How many of James' works were self fulfilling prophesies?" There are several stories about interest in an author's works after their death. Which is what "Monopolizing the Master" is all about.
One thing I'm curious about was how Henry James fell out of favor with the reading public. Much from the claim that he only wrote about the upper and middle class. Not entirely true. In any case, if people didn't like reading about the well-to-do, there must of been other authors and books that were about people in lower stations in life. They could have had a variety of what they read, and read James as well as other authors. Much like today. Maybe it's just me, but often I have gone from reading a classic, to reading a more contemporary author.
January 26, 2014
I found this book very interesting as I didn't know much about what happened to James' letters and manuscripts after he passed away. I was surprised to learn about Edel's control of much of the material, especially as I am studying rare books and special collections for my MLIS and the way that the materials were kept away from the public and the deals that were made run contrary to the reason for collecting such materials.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews