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Henry James

The Bostonians

Henry JamesFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1886

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Book Brief

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Henry James

The Bostonians

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1886
Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Boston, Massachusetts • 1870s

Publication Year

1886

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Henry James's The Bostonians, Northern feminist Olive Chancellor and Southern conservative Basil Ransom vie for the affection and ideological alliance of the captivating young Verena Tarrant, embodying the post-Civil War cultural clash between traditional and modern values in America.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Melancholic

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

3.8

7,828 ratings

56%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Henry James's The Bostonians is praised for its keen social commentary and intricate characterizations. It skillfully delves into themes of feminism and political change but is sometimes critiqued for its dense prose and slow pacing. Overall, it stands out as a thought-provoking novel that juxtaposes progressive and conservative ideologies of the late 19th century.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Bostonians?

A reader who enjoys The Bostonians by Henry James likely appreciates nuanced psychological portraits and social commentary on gender and politics. Fans of Middlemarch by George Eliot or The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, which similarly explore complex relationships and moral dilemmas within society, would find it compelling.

3.8

7,828 ratings

56%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Boston, Massachusetts • 1870s

Publication Year

1886

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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