The Ambassadors
The Cambridge Edition of the Complete Fiction of Henry James provides, for the first time, a scholarly edition of a major writer whose work continues to be read, quoted, adapted and studied. One of Henry James's last three great novels, The Ambassadors offers a witty, observant and profound exploration of the contrast between American and European cultures and of the desire to 'live all you can'. It follows the journey of self-discovery taken by a middle-aged literary gentleman, Lambert Strether, as he sheds his New England perspective and comes to appreciate cosmopolitan society and values, although not without personal cost. This edition, based on the work's first book appearance (Methuen, 1903), illuminates its literary and cultural contexts, contains comprehensive annotation, and provides a detailed textual history. It will appeal to James scholars, book historians and students of early twentieth-century Anglo-American literature and culture, and re-introduce readers to this masterpiece.
- One of the first volumes in the new Cambridge Edition of the Complete Fiction of Henry James, to be published in 34 volumes
- Places The Ambassadors, one of the masterpieces of James' final period, within its cultural and literary contexts
- Recounts the development of this dark comedy, including discussion of the notorious 'misplaced chapter' conundrum
Reviews & endorsements
'… the Cambridge Edition reproduces James's fiction as it originally appeared to his contemporary book-buying public, collectively charting a half century of artistic development, stylistic invention, and cultural history. It gives readers options, and in the case of The Ambassadors the choice of the Cambridge Edition is a deeply satisfying one. … One of the Cambridge Edition's many strengths is the attention the editors pay to textual history and the historical development of James's fiction within biographical, literary, and cultural contexts … many will agree that the Cambridge Edition is 'quite the best, 'all round' edition …' Sarah Wadsworth, Review of English Studies
'[One of] two handsome volumes in their Cambridge maroon cloth covers with gilt stamping on the binding and James's familiar signature on the covers are crucial additions to the resources scholars will use for generations to study the greatest novelist of the modern period.' John Carlos Rowe, The Henry James Review
'Given that the 'textual condition' of The Ambassadors (to use McGann's phrase) is an excursion into chaos (to use James's phrase), Nicola Bradbury should be crowned in laurels for guiding us with such precision through its various incarnations. The Cambridge edition gives us the evolution of The Ambassadors from 'dropped seed', as James called it, to full-flowering.' Frances Wilson, The Times Literary Supplement
Product details
September 2015Hardback
9781107002838
668 pages
236 × 164 × 38 mm
1.08kg
1 b/w illus. 1 map
Available
Table of Contents
- General editors' preface
- General chronology of James' life and writings
- Introduction
- Textual introduction
- Chronology of composition and production
- Bibliography
- The Ambassadors
- Glossary of foreign words and phrases
- Notes
- Textual variants
- List of emendations
- Appendices.