The Altar of the Dead by Henry James
The story revolves around a man who has created an altar in his home to honor the memory of those he has loved and lost. He believes that by doing so, he can maintain a connection with them even after they are gone. The narrative explores themes of grief, loss, and the human need for transcendence. The protagonist's obsession with the altar grows as time passes, and it becomes an integral part of his daily life. His relationships with others begin to suffer as a result, and he finds himself increasingly isolated. Through the character's actions, the story raises questions about the nature of mortality and the ways in which people cope with loss. The narrative is characterized by a sense of melancholy and introspection, and it ultimately presents a nuanced exploration of the human experience.
By Henry James · First published 1895 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Ghost Story, Philosophical Fiction · 9 chapters · 16,830 words
First lines
He had a mortal dislike, poor Stransom, to lean anniversaries, and loved them still less when they made a pretence of a figure. Celebrations and suppressions were equally painful to him, and but one of the former found a place in his life. He had kept each year in his own fashion the date of Mary Antrim's death. It would be more to the point perhaps to say that this occasion kept _him_: it kept him at least effectually from doing anything else. It took hold of him again and again with a hand of which time had softened but never loosened the touch. He waked to his feast of memory as consciously as he would have waked to his marriage-morn. Marriage had had of old but too little to say to the matter: for the girl who was to have been his bride there had been no bridal embrace. She had died of a malignant fever after the wedding-day had been fixed, and he had lost before fairly tasting it an affection that promised to fill his life to the brim.
What this Textopian page supports
The Altar of the Dead is listed on Textopian as a novella by Henry James, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Henry James
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychological Fiction, Ghost Story, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 16,830 words
- Structure: 9 chapters, 163 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Altar of the Dead by Henry James
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- The Unknown by Guy De Maupassant
- Make Believe by Vsevolod Garshin
- Nadejda Nicolaievna by Vsevolod Garshin
- The Author Of Beltraffio by Henry James
- The Assistant Self by F. L. Wallace
- Moonlight by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Psychological Fiction — Explores the inner thoughts and emotions of characters dealing with grief and memory.
- Ghost Story — Involves supernatural elements and the presence of the dead influencing the living.
- Philosophical Fiction — Addresses existential themes and the nature of life and death.
- Literary Fiction — Focuses on character development and complex themes with a sophisticated writing style.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Gothic Fiction · Mystery · Philosophical Themes · Existentialism · Death and Mourning · Loss and Grief · Isolation · Solitude · Obsession · Morality · Ethics