Henry James: A Life

by Leon Edel

This is the one-volume edition of a famous biography of Henry James, which includes new material. Born in America, Henry James was educated both there and in Europe before settling in London, where he was to spend most of his life, in 1876. His novels represent the culmination of the 19th-century realist tradition of Austen, George Eliot, Flauberty and Balzac, and a decisive step towards the experimental modernism of Woolf and T.S. Eliot. His works often focus upon an innocent American in Europe, and assess the qualities and dangers of both American and European culture at the time, as well as showing their vast differences.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Literature, American, Classics

752 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 1985

About the author

Joseph Leon Edel was a American/Canadian literary critic and biographer. Edel taught English and American literature at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) from 1932 until 1934, New York University from 1953 until 1972, and at University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1972 until 1978. From 1944 to 1952, he worked as a reporter and feature writer for the left-wing New York newspapers PM and the Daily Compass.

Reviews

[Paul Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great biography.

Henry James dined out like B B King toured - relentlessly, unswervingly, exhaustingly, in one year over 200 times. After stuffing his orifice with broiled warthog, steamed lark and pomegranite marinaded in brandy and garnished with something unspeakable he'd stroll back home and dash off a chapter of The Wings of the Dove and wake up next day and do it all again. Respect.

Probably reading this giant biography is in my top ten of useless time-wasting things I've done. What I should have been doing in the hours it took me to finish it was practically anything else. For instance, dancing the night away with a seemingly endless parade of lovely young women. That would have been better. Why didn't I do that?

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! The main downside was that sometimes the author bent over backwards to support his biases, and sometimes he gave Henry James a pass for things that he (the author) criticized contemporary women authors for.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think this is the text I'm looking for. What I want is the seven volume biography, each about 800 pages, that were part of the required reading for my defense.

I started out grudgingly, and then got totally caught up. It was like an intellectual soap opera. When would James move to England? What was his real relationship with so-and-so? Ahah! What a revealing letter!

If you have a few spare weeks, and you love James (come on, 'fess up) these really are fabulous.

[Prakhar Bindal · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the James you want without having to read him.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, if I'm not mistaken, the condensed single volume edition of Edel's massive five-fat-volumes literary biography. It's just what the doctor ordered.

I nicked one of the volumes (last years, I think) off some dusty shelves awhile back and was surprisingly mesmerized by Edel's meticulous, absorbing near-novelization of a writer with whom, I fear, I may in fact share a great deal except the exposure to and enjoyment of his prose itself. Isn't it strange how that happens?

[Chris Cangiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great single volume literary biographies of the 20th Century. Edel does a great job of setting forth in great detail the events of James’ life and weaving his major works into it. James was one of the towering literary figures of the late 19th Century and the prototype for the American expatriate abroad. He lived a massive life and produced a mass of literary works and this single volume biography does him and them justice.

[Mark Dickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best biographies I have read (comparable to Deutscher's The Prophet).

[Michael Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed five volume account of the life and career of Henry James. Edel's devotion to his subject is almost at the same level as Robert Caro's devotion to Lyndon Johnson.

One thing to watch out for: these characters are all ghosts; over and over again we learn that "he is away..." or "she was visiting Europe..." and "They had only just arrived only to depart again abruptly..." No one is grounded, and the search for solid ground ends with the coffin lid closing and dirt tossed over the final resting place.

Actually ghosts are more interesting; there is a purpose to their ramble. To read Edel is to be caught up in the recognition that the more we try to find meaning and purpose in life, the more meaning and purpose evaporate before our eyes.

[Boweavil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential, basic, the real thing for those who admire the writing of Henry James.

[Gisele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it. It was engaging and informative.

[Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a one volume abridgement of a five volume series on the life of Henry James. Even though it is an abridgement, it is still a lengthy book that takes some effort to get through. There is a lot of discussion of how various events and people in his life influenced his stories and writings. He was a prolific author but it was interesting to see how the stories he wrote are related to the things that were happening to him. He certainly had a cushy life. Never really had to work because of the wealth in his family. Although born in the US, he traveled all over Europe and used his ample leisure time for exploring places so that he could bring it into his writing. Its hard to imagine that he would have produced his writings if he had to worry about where his next meal was going to come from. As a life long bachelor, he didn't have much to worry about. I would have rated it higher but all the details of his travels started to get old. I guess this abridgement could have been abridged itself.

[Paul Jellinek · Rating 5 out of 5]

An indispensable biography for anyone who loves Henry James as much as I do. While Edel is clearly a fan too--how could you not be and write such a massive biography of the man? (this volume is the abridged version of Edel's original 5-volume biography)--he doesn't shy away from James's very human flaws and limitations. Rather, he shows us how it was those same flaws and limitations that fed James's art and gave it, at its best, the essential humanity that lies at its heart.

[Eric Hudson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was kind of a mistake read.
The book reads like a list of cocktail parties and social meetings James had from cradle to grave, but fails to include his thinking on the major issues of his day! Sorry to say a wast of time tomb. Its on the shelf now collecting dust

[Sarah]

Ho-ho! What's that? Don't think I have the stones to get through the full five volumes before the summer's out? We'll just see about that. Perhaps you're forgetting how much I love this man. AND his (biggest) biographer.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Henry James dined and/or lunched with nearly everyone in Europe during his lifetime, yet remained lonely and irascible.

[Irene]

try to read

[Cynthia]

when he returned to america after europe, he said he had no society. for now, he is my society. i love his androgyny.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nearly as long and tedious as James' later novels....

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book in Bordeaux while preparing for my thesis

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just saw the Guardian listed this as one of the ten best literary biographies. I agree but now am inclined to read and enjoy it again.

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is really great. Took me almost a year to read it. I mean the abridged version.

[Kate]

Mentioned in Shadow in the Garden a biographer’s tale by James Atlas