The Ordeal of Consciousness in Henry James

This 1962 appraisal of seven of James's major works provides an insight into his artistic purpose and a fuller appreciation of his material and method. The author's main texts are chosen both for their representativeness and their need of detailed elucidation. These chosen texts and consequently the studies are closely connected by the theme of 'being and seeing' - the exploration of James's peculiar notion of consciousness. They also consider the continuity of James's moral, social and philosophical preoccupations through the various periods of his creative life. The author demands no intimate knowledge of the works: she begins each study with an account of the story which is itself an important part of the elucidation, and then proceeds to unfold layer after layer of meaning. The author's arguments are intellectually stimulating and her interpretations sensitive and accompanied by ample and carefully chosen quotations, which allow James's voice to be heard whenever necessary.