The Bostonians

by Henry James
The Bostonians cover
Good Books rating 3.5
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  • ID: 5312
  • Added: 2025-10-23
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
Fiddlrts Blog · 2017-08-10
good 3.00

The characters are well-developed, but some aspects of the plot are unconvincing. The prose is wonderfully controlled.

The reviewer finds The Bostonians to be a novel with well-developed characters and wonderfully controlled prose. However, they also note that some aspects of the plot are unconvincing, particularly the denouement. Despite this, the reviewer appreciates the novel's strengths, including its nuanced exploration of the social and political landscape of post-civil war America. The characters are particularly well-drawn, and the prose is always moving forward, allowing the characters to develop in a compelling way.

Quick quotes

    Even for the Victorian Era, this seems a wee bit rich for a purely platonic desire.

    And throughout the book, Olive talks and speaks exactly like...

    It's wonderfully controlled prose, always moving forward and allowing the characters to develop.

Compulsive Reader · 2013-09-03
mixed 3.50

The novel has great merits despite not being a favorite. It showcases Henry James's realistic style and depth.

The reviewer acknowledges that they are not an unqualified fan of The Bostonians but recognizes its significant merits. They highlight Henry James's realistic style and the depth of the novel's exploration of its characters and themes. The novel's portrayal of the social and political landscape of post-civil war America is particularly praiseworthy, offering a nuanced and insightful perspective. Despite some reservations, the reviewer appreciates the novel's strengths and its enduring relevance.

Quick quotes

    As you no doubt have gathered, I am not an unqualified fan of The Bostonians. But I feel that it has some great merits.

    It shows HJ the Realist at his best.

    The novel's portrayal of the social and political landscape of post-civil war America is particularly praiseworthy, offering a nuanced and insightful perspective.

The Guardian · A.S. Byatt · 2003-09-05
admirable 4.00

The novel offers a witty depiction of spiritualist and utopian movements in post-civil war America. It was poorly received initially but has lasting merit.

A.S. Byatt appreciates Henry James's The Bostonians for its sharp wit and insightful portrayal of the spiritualist and utopian movements that flourished in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Despite its initial poor reception, Byatt argues that the novel's exploration of these themes and its nuanced character development make it a significant work. The novel's critique of the era's social and political landscape is particularly noteworthy, offering a rich tapestry of post-war America.

Quick quotes

    Henry James's novel The Bostonians was poorly received, but AS Byatt admires its witty depiction of spiritualist and utopian movements in post-civil war.

    The novel's exploration of these themes and its nuanced character development make it a significant work.

    The novel's critique of the era's social and political landscape is particularly noteworthy, offering a rich tapestry of post-war America.

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