The Real Thing by Henry James (1892)
The story revolves around a wealthy American couple who travel to England and become infatuated with the idea of authenticity and the real thing. They meet an English couple who are struggling financially and decide to help them by paying for their expenses in exchange for their company. As they spend more time together, the Americans begin to idealize the English couple's way of life, seeing it as more authentic and genuine than their own. However, this idealization is complicated by the fact that the English couple are not what they seem, and the Americans' perception of them is influenced by their own desires and biases. The story explores themes of class, identity, and the tension between appearance and reality. It raises questions about the nature of authenticity and whether it can ever be truly achieved.
By Henry James · First published 1892 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Short Story · 4 chapters · 14,646 words
First lines
When the porter's wife, who used to answer the house-bell, announced "A gentleman and a lady, sir," I had, as I often had in those days -- the wish being father to the thought -- an immediate vision of sitters. Sitters my visitors in this case proved to be; but not in the sense I should have preferred. There was nothing at first however to indicate that they mightn't have come for a portrait. The gentleman, a man of fifty, very high and very straight, with a moustache slightly grizzled and a dark grey walking-coat admirably fitted, both of which I noted professionally -- I don't mean as a barber or yet as a tailor -- would have struck me as a celebrity if celebrities often were striking. It was a truth of which I had for some time been conscious that a figure with a good deal of frontage was, as one might say, almost never a public institution. A glance at the lady helped to remind me of this paradoxical law: she also looked too distinguished to be a "personality. " Moreover one would scarcely come across two variations together.
What this Textopian page supports
The Real Thing is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry James, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry James
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Short Story, Social Commentary
- Length: 14,646 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 134 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Real Thing 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Real Thing?
- How does this short story by Henry James fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Georginas Reasons by Henry James
- Glasses by Henry James
- Louisa Pallant by Henry James
- The Pension Beaurepas by Henry James
- The Three Sisters by May Sinclair
- The Portrait Of A Lady Volume Ii by Henry James
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development and explores themes of authenticity and perception.
- Realism — The story presents a realistic portrayal of characters and situations, emphasizing everyday life and social issues.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that focuses on a specific incident or theme.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques societal norms and the nature of artistic representation.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · Marriage · Social Class · Identity Crisis · Middle-Class Life · English Countryside · American Expatriates · Cultural Differences · Love Triangle · Unrequited Love · Romantic Relationships