Physical description

Hard cover book, Tales of Three Cities
Author: Henry James
Publisher: Macmillan And Co
Date: 1884
Blue cloth hardcover and spine with spine lettering in black texter. The spine has a Library label with inscription.

Publication type

fiction

Inscriptions & markings

The label on the spine cover with typed text PAT 813.4 JAM
Paste down front end paper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library
Front loose end paper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service
Front loose end paper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service
Flyleaf has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library

Summary

The novel Tales of Three Cities (1884) is not a single narrative, but rather a collection of three distinct novellas inspired by Henry James’s travels and his deep fascination with regional and transatlantic cultural clashes. The first novella, ‘Lady Barberina’, is a classic exploration of James’s famous ‘international theme’. It focuses on the marriage between a wealthy American doctor and an aristocratic Englishwoman, exposing the rigid social expectations of British high society. The second, ‘A New England Winter’, is a witty, satirical look at the distinct social nuances, manners, and artistic attitudes dividing New York and Boston. The third, ‘The Impressions of a Cousin’, is a story structured around a young woman’s personal journal, detailing a complex web of family relationships, trust, and art.