Confidence by Henry James (1903)

Name: Confidence
Author: Henry James

The novel revolves around the complex relationships between two American cousins, Basil Ransom and Verena Tarrant, who meet at a lecture in Boston. Verena, a young woman with exceptional speaking abilities, has been hired by her mentor to deliver lectures on women's rights. Basil, a conservative Southerner, is immediately drawn to Verena's intelligence and charm. As they spend more time together, Basil becomes increasingly infatuated with Verena, but their social differences and conflicting values create tension in their relationship. Meanwhile, Verena's mentor, a charismatic figure named Oliver Chiltern, seeks to exploit her talents for his own gain. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the complexities of human relationships, raising questions about the nature of confidence, power, and personal freedom. Through its nuanced portrayal of characters and their interactions, the novel offers a thought-provoking commentary on the social conventions of the time.

By Henry James · First published 1903 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Psychological Fiction · 30 chapters · 92,349 words

First lines

It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome. He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering. He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey. He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged. He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes. There were two old inns at Siena, both of them very shabby and very dirty. The one at which Longueville had taken up his abode was entered by a dark, pestiferous arch-way, surmounted by a sign which at a distance might have been read by the travellers as the Dantean injunction to renounce all hope.

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Confidence is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry James, dated 1903 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Henry James
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary
Length: 92,349 words
Structure: 30 chapters, 1,944 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The novel focuses on character development, social interactions, and moral dilemmas, typical of literary fiction.
Romance — The plot revolves around romantic entanglements and relationships, a central theme in romance.
Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological motivations and inner thoughts of the characters.
Social Commentary — The story provides insights into societal norms and class distinctions of the time.