The Bostonians

by Henry James

Book Overview

'There was nothing weak about Miss Olive, she was a fighting woman, and she would fight him to the death'

Basil Ransom, an attractive young Mississippi lawyer, is on a visit to his cousin Olive, a wealthy feminist, in Boston when he accompanies her to a meeting on the subject of women's emancipation. One of the speakers is Verena Tarrant, and although he disapproves of all she claims to stand for, Basil is immediately captivated by...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140437665
• ISBN13: 9780140437669
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.0" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

May Be a Timeless Masterpiece [87]

Pitting a battle for the affection of a young maiden (Verena Tarrant), a sententious middle aged woman of Boston (Olive Chancellor) seeks to outwit her stultifying southern lawyer temerarious cousin (Basil Ransom). Watching in the crowd are a wealthy sister to Olive (Mrs. Luna) and a worldly philanthropist (Miss Birdseye). The fight is not personal - but is about everything. Suffrage rights for women are the constant theme espoused throughout this tightly written novel which deeply delves into the complicated characters of each of the above-referenced characters who account for the vast majority of the printed pages, Olive is the movement's champion, Verena its voice, and Miss Birdseye, its benefactor - emotionally and financially. Fighting the joint forces admirably seeking to have "their cause" become realty, southern educated Mississippian Ransom says, "Do you really take the ground that your sex has been without influence? Influence? Why, you have led us all by the nose to where we are now. Wherever we are, its all you." His fight is not to the movement, but to opine when drawn into the parlor room for response. The discourse of this book reads easily - an amazing feat as it was written 120+ years ago. And, the in depth philosophical thoughts marvelously outline many of the characters' values. "The world was full of evil, but she was glad to have been born before it had been swept away, while it was still there to face, to give one a task and reward." The three people of concern are Basil, Olive and Verena. Like so many books of this time, the young man simply becomes entranced by this mysterious woman - a devilishly coy but powerful beauty. A "Zuleika Dobson" of the 19th century. And, the young woman bearing so much weight on her shoulders must ask, "Did she ask herself why she should give up her life to save a sex which, after all, didn't wish to be saved, and which rejected the truth even after it had bathed them with its auroral light and they had pretended to be fed and fortified?" Basil or Olive? Which friend can provide happiness? Could both? Would neither? Would Verena be too pusillanimous to fight these forces which strained her professional and personal life? Ultimately, this book asks more questions than it answers. As to the monumentally honorable and valiant effort for Suffrage, we ask: Is it soiled by Olive's financial and covert payment (payoff?) to Verena's parents? As to the Suffrage's representaive of retort, we ask: Are Basil's honest intentions overcome by his impervious refusal to accept women as equals? This book's modern dialogue of a very avant garde issue in the 1880's makes the issues and statements seem as poignant today as they were when written. That amazingly difficult success is what makes this an identifiable and undeniable classic piece of English literature.

One of Henry James's Best Novels

"The Bostonians" offers a revolutionary exploration of lesbianism and feminism in 1870's Boston, and should be regarded as Henry James's satirical examination of both lesbianism and feminism. Boston feminist and lesbian Olive Chancellor thinks she has found a kindred spirit in the young, beautiful feminist orator Verena Tarrant. Verena finds herself vying for the affections of not only Olive Chancellor, but also of Basil Ransom, a reactionary Mississippian Confederate Civil War veteran. Eventually she chooses in favor of Basil Ransom, marries him, and moves to New York City. James's early novel should be regarded as among the earliest modern American novels with respect to its explorations of both lesbianism and feminism. It offers such a harsh look at Boston upper crust society that it can be regarded as James's sour valentine to his hometown.

excellent read

Memorable duel of wills between 2 stubborn forces in control of a pliable public speaker... One of James' stonger pieces; every word counts so read them carefully. His narration is stuffed with swirling ideas, pinpoint social commentary and sly asides; all floating inside his trademark beautiful prose. Olive versus Basil: there's a literary wrestling match for the ages. Great stuff

Scathing? Yes. Spellbinding? Yes. Hilarious? Yes. Boring? NO

This is the high point of the Henry James middle period. I don't think any book so perfectly captures the spirit of a city than The Bostonians does. It's obvious that James is critical of the people of Boston, and has great fun with a great era (spirituality, free love, communal living, feminism, and seances in the post-Civil War America), yet at the same time, I think this is a great description (and a truthful one) of the home of the eban and the cod. The battle between Olive Chancellor and Basil Ransom for the soul of the very confused spiritualist speaker Verena Tarrant (Ah, those Jamesian names again!)is not only powerfully doen, but I think this book has much more humor in it than Portrait of a Lady does. (Although, this does not diminish either work in the least.) I could speak all day about this book, and given a chance I will. But I urge you to take a chance on it. I was Massachusetts born and raised..but out in the Western end of the state, and we tend to feel Bostonians sometimes think a bit too well of themselves. Apparently, over 100 years ago, things were the same. There is so much more to this book, read it, and realize that we, at the beginning of a new millenium, are hardly as progressive or as innovative as we like to think we are.Of course, the greatest irony of this book comes not within its pages, but when you visit the grave of the James family. Henry James ashes were interred in the ground on the family plot, and now and forever, the family plot looks not upon the city of New York, or the expanses of Europe, but rather, Henry James, for all eternity, is facing th city of Boston. e

Subtle, intricate, study of hidden passions

The Bostonians, like James' other novels, deals with the subtleties of human interactions. Olive, who is plainly in love with Verena, may or may not be aware of her own feelings. Watching James tease the reader with this is a masterful study in subtext. Not recommended for those raised on lots and lots of television. They won't get it.