The Ambassadors

The first scholarly edition of one of Henry James's last great novels, The Ambassadors (1903).

Henry James (Author), Nicola Bradbury (Edited by)

9781107002838, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 September 2015

668 pages, 1 b/w illus. 1 map
23.6 x 16.4 x 3.8 cm, 1.08 kg

'Given that the 'textual condition' of The Ambassadors (to use McGann's phrase) is an excursion into chaos (to use James's phrase), Nicola Bradbury should be crowned in laurels for guiding us with such precision through its various incarnations. The Cambridge edition gives us the evolution of The Ambassadors from 'dropped seed', as James called it, to full-flowering.' Frances Wilson, The Times Literary Supplement

The Cambridge Edition of the Complete Fiction of Henry James provides, for the first time, a scholarly edition of a major writer whose work continues to be read, quoted, adapted and studied. One of Henry James's last three great novels, The Ambassadors offers a witty, observant and profound exploration of the contrast between American and European cultures and of the desire to 'live all you can'. It follows the journey of self-discovery taken by a middle-aged literary gentleman, Lambert Strether, as he sheds his New England perspective and comes to appreciate cosmopolitan society and values, although not without personal cost. This edition, based on the work's first book appearance (Methuen, 1903), illuminates its literary and cultural contexts, contains comprehensive annotation, and provides a detailed textual history. It will appeal to James scholars, book historians and students of early twentieth-century Anglo-American literature and culture, and re-introduce readers to this masterpiece.

General editors' preface
General chronology of James' life and writings
Introduction
Textual introduction
Chronology of composition and production
Bibliography
The Ambassadors
Glossary of foreign words and phrases
Notes
Textual variants
List of emendations
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Classic fiction [pre c 1945 FC], Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers [DSK], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 [DSBF]