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A review by binstonbirchill
The Bostonians by Henry James
5.0
Boston at the turn of the century is quite an odd place when looking back 130 years. The social norms have changed so much yet the social movement at the center of the book, women’s rights, is quite familiar. One thing that will never change is that there’s always progress to be made. That isn’t to say that James is promoting feminism in this book, it’s actually a satire that I appreciate despite the author’s apparent satisfaction with the status quo.
I appreciated it not for the political sentiment of Basil Ransom but because the picture of America and Americans in the 1880s was painted exceedingly well. It’s a period piece that draws you in despite the lack of action. Long sentences, paragraphs, and obscure words may frustrate the unprepared reader, but for me at this moment that’s part of the appeal.
This is my first read of Henry James and it won’t be the last. I’ve read that he does characters quite well, in this one the cast of characters is small but distinct. There’s much to not like about the main characters but that’s never been an issue for me. It’s the relationship they have that I found quite interesting. I hate it when everyone gets along.
I appreciated it not for the political sentiment of Basil Ransom but because the picture of America and Americans in the 1880s was painted exceedingly well. It’s a period piece that draws you in despite the lack of action. Long sentences, paragraphs, and obscure words may frustrate the unprepared reader, but for me at this moment that’s part of the appeal.
This is my first read of Henry James and it won’t be the last. I’ve read that he does characters quite well, in this one the cast of characters is small but distinct. There’s much to not like about the main characters but that’s never been an issue for me. It’s the relationship they have that I found quite interesting. I hate it when everyone gets along.