Henry James, 1886

JAMES, Henry (1843-1916). The Bostonians. London: Macmillan and Co., 1886.

First edition of James's biting satire.The Bostonians first appeared as a serial in The Century Magazine in 1885-86 and upon publication was not particularly well received. Writing about the novel in the Guardian, A.S. Byatt would comment: "The Bostonians is about idealism in a democracy still recovering from a civil war bitterly fought for social ideals. It is written, paradoxically, with a ferocious, precise, detailed—and wildly comic—realism that derives from Dickens and Balzac. In that paradox lies both its greatness and the edged tone that arouses instinctive dislike in many readers." It is the story of a love triangle of sorts between Basil Ransom, a political conservative from Mississippi; Olive Chancellor, Ransom's cousin and a Boston feminist; and Verena Tarrant, a young protégé in the women's movement. In its depiction of the cohabitating Olive and Verena, the novel became associated with the idea of a "Boston marriage," which was likely based on James's sister Alice (1848-1892) and her life parter, Katharine Loring. Edel & Laurence A28.

Three volumes, octavo (190 x 125mm). Half titles, 2 pp. of ads at rear of Vol. 2, 4 pp. at rear of Vol. 3. (Old description on front pastedown of vol. 1). Original dark blue-green cloth (spines toned with slight lean, some wear at tips; rippling to cloth of vol. 1; rear joints starting to split on vol. 1 & 3, with closed tear through first part of title on vol. 3).