As The Europeans opens, Eugenia and Felix, the "Europeans" of the title, are in Boston. Recently her marriage to a German prince has come apart, and she and her brother Felix are visiting relatives in the countryside near Boston, looking to arrange a wealthy second marriage for Eugenia. It's a satire on a certain level -- a masterly short novel (well, short for James) that shows what Rebecca West calls James's "clear sunlit charm." For good reason it's become one of James's most popular novels.

Author Biography

Henry James (1843 - 1916) was an American-born British writer. He is regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He was the son of Henry James, Sr. and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James.He is best known for a number of novels showing Americans encountering Europe and Europeans. His method of writing from a character's point of view allowed him to explore issues related to consciousness and perception and his style in later works has been compared to impressionist painting. His imaginative use of point of view, interior monologue and unreliable narrators brought a new depth to narrative fiction.