The Art of Criticism: Henry James on the Theory and the Practice of FictionIn The Art of Criticism, William Veeder and Susan M. Griffin have brought together for the first time the best of the Master's critical work: the most important of his Prefaces, which R. P. Blackmur has called "the most sustained and I think the most eloquent and original piece of literary criticism in existence"; his studies of Hawthorne, George Eliot, Balzac, Zola, de Maupassant, Turgenev, Sante-Beuve, and Arnold; and his essays on the function of criticism and the future of the novel. The editors have provided what James himself emphasized in his literary criticism—the text's context. Each selection is framed by an editorial commentary and notes which give its biographical, bibliographical, and critical background and cite other references in James' work to the topic discussed. This framework, along with the editors' introduction, gives the reader a sense of the place of these pieces in the history of criticism. |
What people are saying - Write a review
The art of criticism: Henry James on the theory and the practice of fiction
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictAt last, a volume of James's major essays and prefaces on fiction that, without ponderous machinery, places them clearly in the context of his literary life. By providing detailed notes on the text ... Read full review
Common terms and phrases
admirable American appeared appreciation artist attempt Balzac beauty become begin Chapter character charm close complete consciousness course critic deal effect element English essay example experience expression fact feel fiction figure French give given ground hand Hawthorne Henry James human idea imagination impression interest Italy James least less letters light literary literature living look manner March matter Maupassant mean measure mind moral nature never novel novelist once one's particular perhaps picture play Portrait position possible practice Preface present produced question reader relation remains remarkable represented Review revised Sainte-Beuve seems sense short side simply speak story things tion touch truth turn vision volume whole wonder write writer York young Zola
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Art of Criticism: Henry James on the Theory and the Practice of Fiction |
| Author | Henry James |
| Editors | William Veeder, Susan M. Griffin |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press, 1986 |
| ISBN | 0226391973, 9780226391977 |
| Length | 517 pages |
| Subjects | › Literary Criticism / Books & Reading Literary Criticism / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |