The Bostonians

Henry James

Summary

Henry James’s tragicomic masterpiece pits a headstrong Mississippi lawyer against his feminist cousin in a no-holds-barred fight for the heart of an impressionable young suffragette  When Basil Ransom, a headstrong Mississippi lawyer, comes to Boston to call on his wealthy activist cousin, Olive, an epic battle of wills ensues. Basil is a conservative of the most ardent type while Cousin Olive is steadfast in her radicalism. Perhaps for a laugh, perhaps for a story to tell his lawyer friends back in Mississippi, Basil accompanies Olive to a women’s emancipation rally, whereupon he falls irrevocably in love with a young suffragette, Miss Verena Tarrant, and sets about trying to rewrite her beliefs. The problem is that Olive has been grooming Miss Tarrant as her protégé. Will Basil reform the lovely young activist orator, or will Olive win the young woman’s heart and mind?   Often proclaimed James’s funniest novel and regarded as his most successful political work, The Bostonians deals with love and friendship in the awkward landscape of shifting social roles, feminism in post–Civil War America, and a woman’s place in this brave new world. Funny, astute, and merciless, The Bostonians is one of James’s most successful portrayals of a world teetering between old values and the relentless march of social progress.   This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

Available since: 02/24/2015.

Print length: 480 pages.

1 Comments

Book of the Week 12/22/2023

The festive season offers the perfect occasion to explore literary classics that often get overlooked amidst our busy lives. Set in 19th-century Boston, THE BOSTONIANS by Henry James takes us on a captivating journey into the beginnings of the feminist movement and societal expectations in the United States of America.

James’ narrative skillfully intertwines a story that, despite its historical context, addresses some remarkable modern ideals. The central plot revolves around Boston feminist Olive, her conservative cousin Ransom, and Verena, a captivating young woman blessed with a remarkable gift for public speaking, who has taken a keen interest in the feminist cause. Upon meeting Verena, Ransom immediately falls under her spell and even though he is a poor Southerner who cannot offer her the same comforts as her Northern admirers, he does everything in his power to win her heart. Meanwhile, Olive takes Verena under her wing, in order for her to be the face of feminism in the USA.

In the spirit of the season, we encourage fellow readers to embrace the holiday break as an opportunity to rediscover this heavenly ironic literary gem. When liberals are discarded as “vegetarians” or “the truth [changes] sides”, one cannot help but wonder if today’s times are really as modern as we think… THE BOSTONIANS not only provides a captivating narrative but also invites reflection on the societal shifts that have shaped our present and the ongoing journey toward equality.

Discover more book recommendations on https://www.24symbols.com/24stories/en/the-best-books-of-the-moment/

About the author

Henry James

Henry James is best known for writing The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors, and The Wings of the Dove. His later works were increasingly experimental, and were often described as literature's...

Other books that might interest you

My Dad's Funnier Than Your Dad -...

Kelly Conway, Caroline St. Clair

Comic and television star Tim Conway (The Carol Burnett Show, McHale's Navy, Dorf) enjoyed enormous popular appeal. In this humorous, loving, and surprising memoir, Tim's eldest of his six children, Kelly, reveals that the Conway home life was as riotous as some of her father's legendary comedy sketches. Kelly Conway allows listeners an intimate look at an American childhood set in 1970s and 1980s Los Angeles, from the studios of CBS to the racetrack of Santa Anita Park, where her father taught his kids the art of horse betting. Tim Conway took his hilarious creativity off the set to the family home, where he acted as the ringmaster to six unruly lion cubs—and often lit the fuse of their short-tempered mother, Mary Anne. Kelly takes the listener through the fascinating world of entertainment, from her dad's television stardom to her own career in costume design and wardrobe styling, using the lessons her father taught her about holding her own in the often cruel world of show business. But it's not until Kelly realizes that she must find the courage to fight for her dad when he faces a devastating life change that her steadfast commitment to him becomes clear—although it means losing lifelong relationships and at times facing harsh criticism. My Dad's Funnier Than Your Dad is Kelly's love letter to her father, an account of the warm, fun-filled world of her childhood.

Show book

Formidable Riddles For Smart...

Matt Woods

Our professionally narrated, one-hour-long audiobook is filled with 150 brain-bending riddles to challenge those powerful and intelligent little minds!  
These formidable riddles are ideal for family-friendly fun, with tricky riddles such as: 
It's so fragile that if you say its name, it breaks. What is it? A: Silence.  
I have a neck but no head. What am I? A: A bottle.  
There was a train crash and every single person died. Who were the survivors? A: All of the couples.  
We lie on our backs and open our stomachs so that the ignorant become wise. What are we? A: We are books.  
It's simply the perfect audiobook for ages 8 and up! And the best part is, the whole family can enjoy it. Some of the riddles are so hard that even Grandma won't be able get the answer! It's ideal for long car journeys, slow Sunday afternoons when you need some peace and quiet, or just about any scenario with family or friends. 
So listen and play along anytime, and anywhere, by adding this audiobook to your library now!

Show book

Life in Lashes - The Story of a...

Kita Mean

The hilarious tell-all memoir by the first winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under 
  
Hailing from a sleepy eastern suburb of Auckland, Nick Nash grew up feeling like he stood out for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't until he experimented with the art of drag that he found freedom in his fierce and confident alter-ego, Kita Mean. From wild nights partying like there was no tomorrow, to scrounging together delightfully camp costumes on a shoestring budget, buying an iconic cabaret bar with bestie Anita Wigl'it, and competing on the global stage alongside Kiwi and Aussie drag legends in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, Kita shares behind-the-scenes goss and important life lessons - many learned the hard way - about fighting your demons and being proud of your most authentic self.  
Bursting with outrageous style and cheek, Life in Lashes is a memoir of a lost boy who found salvation as a drag queen, learned to love herself, and went on to share her fabulousness with the world.  
HarperCollins Australia 2022

Show book

Father Son and Soldering Gun -...

Steven V. Mycynek

Do you embrace your life and how you came to be who you are today? While that can sometimes be painful, it could be the most powerful thing you ever do. Witness this power through the legacy of Victor Mycynek (1943-2004). 
Victor-an engineer, craftsman, and forestry enthusiast-was not a politician, celebrity, CEO, or business owner. He wasn't an artist or in the military. He didn't live through the era of social media influencers. Still, just by being himself, he inspired the richest and fullest life possible for many who knew him. It would be an understatement to say he used his time well. 
Victor's son, Steven, proves through stories about his father, some happy or sad, some funny or just plain odd, that accepting who you are and where you came from, quirks and all, can unleash an awesome force to impact the world around you for the better. Following Victor's example, we all can learn to use our time well.

Show book

Mistle Text - 'Twas the Text...

Melanie Summers, Whitney Dineen

I'm Holly Snow and I'm in desperate need of a miracle. I've been raising my five-year-old niece, Faith, since she was a baby. As much as I love her, I was twenty-three when my sister died. There was no way I was ready to be a single mom. 
 
 
 
A few months ago, I managed to get Faith a partial scholarship to a ritzy preschool for gifted children. I've been struggling to make tuition payments ever since. The bottom line is that I need to make more money. At this point, I'll take any job that allows me to look after Faith while I work—as it doesn't involve anything weird or illegal. So, when my bestie, Toni, tells me her tall, dark, and Scroogy boss needs a personal shopper to take care of all his Christmas needs, I leap at the opportunity. 
 
 
 
When I say yes, I have no idea Mr. Incredible will also end up needing a fake girlfriend. Apparently, he's got to prove to his family that he's the marrying type or they won't be turning over the keys to their investment brokerage to him come January. I should definitely say no, but I'd be crazy not to take the obscene amount of money he's throwing my way. (Besides, who wouldn't want to live in the lap of luxury in a Newport mansion for a few days?) As a bonus, Faith and I get completely new wardrobes so we can fit in. Now, I just have to promise myself not to fall in love with him.

Show book

Amazing Grace: An Incredible Day...

Howard Dunkley

Twelve-year-old Grace lives with her sister and grandmother in a two-bedroom rent-controlled New York City apartment. On Saturday, April 19, 1986, she finds herself on the run, outwitting her grandmother, kissing a boy she really likes, and tricking adults out of their spot in line at a local Jamaican restaurant, all while she constantly thinks about parents she never really knew. Just when she thinks she has everything under control, her world is turned upside. Her account of the day is one part punchy and humorous and another part sad and all too real.

Show book