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The Ambassadors

By Henry James
Penguin Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.63 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 12,898 ratings, 842 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Ambassadors by Henry James follows the story of Lambert Strether, an American sent to Paris to retrieve his fianceé's wayward son, Chad. Strether becomes enthralled by the European lifestyle and begins to question his own values and beliefs. The novel explores themes of identity, cultural contrasts, and the clash between duty and personal enlightenment.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might find this book appealing if you enjoy delving into sophisticated character studies and intricate explorations of cultural contrasts. It offers a rich tapestry of social observations and psychological depth, set against the backdrop of Parisian and American societies.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Concerned that her son Chad may have become involved with a woman of dubious reputation, the formidable Mrs Newsome sends her 'ambassador' Strether from Massachusetts to Paris to extricate him. As the summer wears on, Mrs Newsome concludes that she must send another envoy to confront the errant Chad.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Part of a series of new editions of Henry James's most famous novels and short stories.

When Chadwick Newsome, a young American favoured with fortune and independence, becomes entangled in a liaison dangereux with a Parisian temptress, his overbearing mother deploys her future husband, the elderly, amiable Strether, as an ambassador to engineer his safe return.

But seduced by the ambient charms of Paris and the bewitching comtesse de Vionnet, Strether soon deserts to Chadwick's side, initiating a sparkling tale of mistaken intentions, comic accident, and false allegiances.

This culminates in the deployment of another, less fallible ambassador - the cold, glittering, ruthless Sarah Pocock.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Many reviewers regard The Ambassadors by Henry James as a masterpiece of subtlety and psychological insight. It is often praised for its intricate narrative and complex character development. Graham Greene notably compared James's uniqueness and mastery in the novel's history to Shakespeare's in poetry.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141441320

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 March 2008

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Edited by Adrian Poole

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 372g

Pages: 544

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Henry James In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction

About the Author

Henry James was born on April 15th 1843 in New York. He was the brother of the philosopher and psychologist William James. He spent a great deal of his life in Europe, especially England. He is best known for his cosmopolitan and often haunting portraits of European and American life. His most famous fictional works include The Portrait of a Lady (1881), What Maisie Knew (1897), The Turn of the Screw (1898), The Wings of the Dove (1902), The Ambassadors (1903) and The Golden Bowl (1904). He also wrote literary criticism, most famously The Art of the Fiction (1884). He died on February 28th 1916.

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