Henry James At Any Rate
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Type
Article
Change log
Authors
Wilson, RM
Abstract
This essay discusses James’s prefaces to the New York Edition as instances of the development of the form of the preface for James’s critical purposes. In particular, it focuses on the deployment of James’s frequent and elaborate set-pieces and it shows that as often as he vaunts his literary critical eloquence James apologizes for it. His prefatory voice is thus at once continuous with the stylistic virtuosity of his novels and critically authoritative, but also selfrevising and apologetic. James’s prefaces are thus shown to be a signal development in the preface as critical form.
Description
Keywords
American literature, 1800-1899, James, Henry, Jr.(1843-1916), 0000 0001 2128 0310, novel, prose, narrative voice, form, style, preface
Journal Title
The Henry James Review
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0273-0340
1080-6555
1080-6555
Volume Title
38
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press