Sheldon M. Novick's Henry James: The Young Master, a biography of

As if Henry James himself were guiding us, we visit old Calvinist New York in the mid-nineteenth century, and share the coming-of-age of a young man whose boldness of spirit and profound capacity for affection attract both men and women to him. We journey with James through Italy and France, witness his first love affair in Paris, and settle with him in London at the height of empire in the Victorian Age. We gain admission to London society with him, and as the world opens to James we share with him the experience of writing a series of celebrated and successful novels, culminating with Washington Square (on which the play "The Heiress" is based) and his masterpiece The Portrait of a Lady.

“Splendidly written . . . Novick has aimed to bring James back to life and he has succeeded brilliantly. . . It is no small ambition to write a biography of James that is commensurate with that master, and Sheldon Novick has done it.” –Washington Post Book World

“Like a movie of James’s life, as it unfolds moment to moment.” –The New York Times

“Masterful in bringing James and his world to life.” –San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle

“Beautifully written, with a grace that enables [Sheldon Novick] to weave his subject’s words in and out of his own with a properly Jamesian suavity . . . Novick’s account gives one a profound respect for James’s persistence and power of will.” –The New Republic

Home Henry James Henry James: The Mature Master Henry James: The Young Master Justice Holmes About Me Blog Send me an e-mail	Order from Amazon or Barnes & Noble More about the concluding volume -- Henry James: The Mature Master	As if Henry James himself were guiding us, we visit old Calvinist New York in the mid-nineteenth century, and share the coming-of-age of a young man whose boldness of spirit and profound capacity for affection attract both men and women to him. We journey with James through Italy and France, witness his first love affair in Paris, and settle with him in London at the height of empire in the Victorian Age. We gain admission to London society with him, and as the world opens to James we share with him the experience of writing a series of celebrated and successful novels, culminating with Washington Square (on which the play "The Heiress" is based) and his masterpiece The Portrait of a Lady. “Splendidly written . . . Novick has aimed to bring James back to life and he has succeeded brilliantly. . . It is no small ambition to write a biography of James that is commensurate with that master, and Sheldon Novick has done it.” –Washington Post Book World “Like a movie of James’s life, as it unfolds moment to moment.” –The New York Times “Masterful in bringing James and his world to life.” –San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle “Beautifully written, with a grace that enables [Sheldon Novick] to weave his subject’s words in and out of his own with a properly Jamesian suavity . . . Novick’s account gives one a profound respect for James’s persistence and power of will.” –The New Republic