The Middle Years (book)
Encyclopedia
The Middle Years is an incomplete book of autobiography by Henry James
, posthumously published in 1917. The book covers the early years of James' residence in Europe and his meetings with writers such as George Eliot
, Alfred Tennyson, and James Russell Lowell
.
reading of Locksley Hall left James unimpressed.
George Eliot appealed much more to James with her interesting conversation and alert consideration of ideas. James tells a story of how he helped summon a doctor when George Eliot's injured stepson required urgent medical aid. He compliments the novelist on how carefully she attended to the young man.
James also has much to say about the London of his first impressions: the rooms he stayed in, the Londoners he talked with on the streets, the theaters and museums he visited. The fragment concludes with a remembance of Lady Waterford, a painter who possessed "that combination of rare beauty and rare talent which the Victorian age
had for many years not ceased to acclaim."
might say) to merit reading.
Henry James
Henry James, OM was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He was the son of Henry James, Sr., a clergyman, and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James....
, posthumously published in 1917. The book covers the early years of James' residence in Europe and his meetings with writers such as George Eliot
George Eliot
Mary Anne Evans , better known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, journalist and translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era...
, Alfred Tennyson, and James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowell was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the Fireside Poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets who rivaled the popularity of British poets...
.
Summary and themes
The seven chapters of this fragment show promise as a record of James' young manhood in Europe. He met many of the leading writers of the day, though his opinions of them were not always flattering. Tennyson he found rather dull and commonplace, not at all the fine mind he expected. The poet'sPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
reading of Locksley Hall left James unimpressed.
George Eliot appealed much more to James with her interesting conversation and alert consideration of ideas. James tells a story of how he helped summon a doctor when George Eliot's injured stepson required urgent medical aid. He compliments the novelist on how carefully she attended to the young man.
James also has much to say about the London of his first impressions: the rooms he stayed in, the Londoners he talked with on the streets, the theaters and museums he visited. The fragment concludes with a remembance of Lady Waterford, a painter who possessed "that combination of rare beauty and rare talent which the Victorian age
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
had for many years not ceased to acclaim."
Critical evaluation
It's unfortunate that James' autobiography breaks off just when it was getting most interesting, as he began his career as a celebrated novelist and became acquainted with many of the most talented writers of his time. But the fragment still offers enough glimpses of eminent Victorians (as Lytton StracheyLytton Strachey
Giles Lytton Strachey was a British writer and critic. He is best known for establishing a new form of biography in which psychological insight and sympathy are combined with irreverence and wit...
might say) to merit reading.