Books like The Bostonians by Henry James
The Bostonians, first published in 1886, is Henry James’s sharp social satire set in Boston. The plot centers on Basil Ransom, a conservative Civil War veteran, his feminist cousin Olive Chancellor, and Verena Tarrant, a newcomer whose affections attract both men. James presents a lively cast of eccentric characters and uses their interactions to critique the reformist movement of the time, oscillating between derision of Boston reformers and sympathy for Olive’s struggle to preserve the reformist flame in her protégé’s heart.
First publish date: June 30, 1974
Genre: Literary Fiction/Classic Literature
Authors: Henry James
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