From Library Journal
The story of the James family begins with William James of Albany, who emigrated from Ireland in 1789, prospered extravagantly, and left a fortune that enabled his son, Henry James Sr., to cultivate his philosophical and spiritual ideas, travel, and raise an outstanding literary/intellectual family. The focus is, of course, on the famous Jameses--William the psychologist, Henry Jr. the novelist, Alice the invalid diarist--and their interactions, crises, and creative development. But Lewis also interweaves the stories of the younger brothers (Garth Wilkinson and Robertson), as well as insights into the characters of the wives of the Jameses, and convincingly points out the moral and intellectual influence of Henry James Sr. on his many descendants. This very full and fascinating account of one of America's major families will interest students of literature and history as well as the general reader. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/91.
- Richard Kuczkowski, Dominican Coll., Blauvelt, N.Y.
The story of the James family begins with William James of Albany, who emigrated from Ireland in 1789, prospered extravagantly, and left a fortune that enabled his son, Henry James Sr., to cultivate his philosophical and spiritual ideas, travel, and raise an outstanding literary/intellectual family. The focus is, of course, on the famous Jameses--William the psychologist, Henry Jr. the novelist, Alice the invalid diarist--and their interactions, crises, and creative development. But Lewis also interweaves the stories of the younger brothers (Garth Wilkinson and Robertson), as well as insights into the characters of the wives of the Jameses, and convincingly points out the moral and intellectual influence of Henry James Sr. on his many descendants. This very full and fascinating account of one of America's major families will interest students of literature and history as well as the general reader. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/91.
- Richard Kuczkowski, Dominican Coll., Blauvelt, N.Y.
