Product Description

First published in 1877, and dramatised by James himself 11 years later, the novel is concerned with the contrast between American and European social codes.The central protagonist is a wealthy American who falls in love with a widow of noble birth while on a trip to Paris. He supports her brother, but the rest of the family discourage his courtship of Claire but he persists until his proposalis accepted; unfortunately this only marks the beginning of his troubles.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2114099 in Books
• Published on: 1997-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 398 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Henry James' great theme is the collision of cultures, of New World American energy encountering Old World European aristocracy; and his supreme skill is in the delineation of the unspoken subtleties that govern human interaction-- the meanings behind people's words, the delicate signals by which people communicate more than the conventions of conversation or society allow.

The American is built around a moral dilemma that dramatises this clash of cultures. Wealthy, open-hearted Christopher Newman (the New Man in the Old World) visits Paris and falls in love with impoverished French aristocrat, Claire de Cintre. However, her snobbish family bully her into breaking off the engagement. When Newman discovers that his former fiancée's family are hiding a dark secret, corrupt Old World morals suggest he should use it to take his revenge; but his simpler American sense tells him that this would be wrong. What should he do? The fine touch with which James explores the complexities of this scenario markes an extraordinary advance over his first novel, Roderick Hudson; and The American looks forward to the mature classics of James' middle period, books like Daisy Miller and Portrai t of a Lady--all novels that explore the classic Jamesian theme of Americans in Europe. --Adam Roberts

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Customer Reviews

A Romance for The Unromantic
"The American" by Henry James is a romance for both people who love romances and those who do not. Set in late nineteenth century Paris, it combines a love story with the struggle between a new, wealthy American and an old, traditional French family over the lovely daughter of the family.

The story involves Christopher Newman, a wealthy American businessman, during the Paris portion of his European tour. Romance seems be a large part of what he is looking for. The first suggestion that he may have found it occurs in his encounter with the artist, Noemie Nioche. This turns out to be merely a passing fancy. Things get more serious when his American friends, Mr. and Mrs. Tristan put him in contact with an attractive young widow, Claire de Cintre.

Madame de Cintre, nee Bellegarde, whose first marriage had been arranged to an elderly nobleman who gave her a title, but little else. Upon meeting Newman, both seem to find what they are looking for in the world of romance. As the story develops it becomes clear that it is sufficient for Newman to win Claire but that he must also win over her family, which consisted of her mother, Madame de Bellegarde and her brother, Urbaine, the Marquis de Bellegarde.

The House of Bellegarde was full of pride and tradition, but short of money. As the Bellegardes size up Newman, it becomes obvious that they are weighing the sale of their pride for Newman's money. Ultimately they reach their decision. In their last meeting, Claire informed Newman of that she was to become a nun. Although shocked, Newman could not persuade Claire to break free of her family's rule and breath the free air which comes so naturally to an American.

Given one piece of evidence, Newman attempts to recover Claire back through blackmail. When the Bellegardes refuse to submit, Newman destroys his evidence. Up to the very end, the reader is left hoping for the happy ending, but he hopes in vain.

For the romantic, this book provides an inspiring love story. For the historian, it provides a glimpse into the life of Nineteenth Century Aristocracy on two continents. For the lover of freedom, it provides a struggle between New World freedom and individuality and Old World tradition and bonds of consanguinity. With something for everyone, The American is a worthwhile read for all.

Early James
This edition is the New York Edition version, where Henry James had revised the original story (as he did with most of his tales). The story already shows the main theme that James always came back to time and time again, the disparity between the New and Old Worlds.

It is 1868 and Christopher Newman has arrived in Paris after selling up all his business interests in the US. Feeling that he neeeded a change in life Newman has decided to visit Europe. Whilst arranging to buy a copy of a painting he meets up with an old acquaintance and has dinner with him and his wife. It is his friend's wife who gets Newman interested in Claire de Cintre, a widower from a unhappy previous marriage. Claire de Cintre is from a very old family, the Bellegardes, who have fallen on hard times. Although things look like they are going all right between Newman and Claire can her family reconcile themselves to an alliance between a nouveu riche with no title?

This is a romance that starts off quite light and frothy but by degrees becomes much darker, taking in family duty, a skeleton in the closet and, pride; becoming a serious melodrama that starts to show those subtlties that James is famous for. This isn't by any degree the best of James' novels but it is still way and above more eloquent and better than most novels.