Henry James

Henry James (1843–1916) was an American-born British writer, widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists in the English language and a master of literary realism. Born in New York City into an intellectual family—his brother William James became a renowned psychologist—James spent most of his adult life in Europe, eventually settling in England and becoming a British citizen in 1915.

James's fiction frequently explores the cultural clash between the New World and the Old World, portraying innocent Americans confronting the sophistication and moral complexity of European society. He is celebrated for his psychological depth, elaborate prose style, and innovative narrative techniques, particularly his use of restricted point of view, which profoundly influenced the development of the modern novel.

His major works include The American (1877), Daisy Miller (1878), Washington Square (1880), and The Portrait of a Lady (1881). In his later period, he produced three masterpieces: The Wings of the Dove (1902), The Ambassadors (1903), and The Golden Bowl (1904). His chilling novella The Turn of the Screw (1898) remains a classic of Gothic fiction. In 1916, shortly before his death, James was awarded the Order of Merit by King George V.