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The Ambassadors
by Henry James
- Used
- Very Good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, United Kingdom
Item Price
A$762.07A$685.87
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Methuen & Co, 1903 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 5.5". None. The first edition of one of Henry James's most celebrated novels, a dark comedy about protagonist Lewis Lambert Strether's trip to Europe. The first edition in book form of this work, which first appeared serially in the North American Review.Edel & Laurence A58a. The first printing - with publisher's catalogue dated July 1903 - of which 3,500 copies were produced.An inspiration for Patricia Highsmith's 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', James's novel follows the protagonist as travels to Europe to fetch the son of his fiancee, and bring him into the family business. In the 'New York Edition' preface, Henry James proclaimed The Ambassadors as the best of his novels. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, bright. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with teat to back strip head, and head of front joint starting. Boards bright. Hinges strained, but firmly held. 'First Ed.' stamp to head of front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages a touch age toned, but clean. Very Good
Synopsis
Chad Newsome has gone to Paris. He is charmed by Old World fascinations and caught up in the leisurely craft and bohemian direction of European worldliness. An older woman of rank and adventurous but subtle skill, Madame de Vionnet, strokes his ego and does her best to keep Chad in Paris indefinitely. Chad's mother lives in Woollett, Mass., and wants her son to return to run the family business. Mrs. Newsome is an invalid and cannot go to Paris to fetch her son herself, so she employs Lambert Strether and Sarah Pocock to return Chad to Massachusetts. Sarah has been to Paris before and is aware of its attractiveness, so her determination to succeed in this task is fixed and uncompromising. Strether is of later middle age, however, and inspired by the fairytale of a beautiful life in Europe. Mrs. Newsome has promised to marry Strether if he can bring Chad home. Strether is completely enamored by the Parisian character and its enchantments and has a difficult time completing his mission. The drama of reestablishing Chad in business in America and of coming to terms with the mythological romance of France leaves the reader unbalanced, trying to recover equilibrium in the real world. Those involved with Chad's rescue are compelled to recognize the deep intimacies of personal attachment and the accepted proprieties of direct consequence. The success and failures of such an undertaking are unpredictable. The result of every character's attempt to steer Chad rightly is a strange conglomeration of role reversal, fantasy, and truth.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Rooke Books
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 876F28
- Title
- The Ambassadors
- Author
- Henry James
- Illustrator
- None
- Format/Binding
- Cloth
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Methuen & Co
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1903
- Size
- 8" by 5.5"
- Keywords
- Lewis Lambert Strether turn of the screw what maisie knew turn of the screw
Terms of Sale
Rooke Books
Books are sent on approval and may be returned in like condition for any reason within 14 days of receipt. Responsibility of return to be with the purchaser.
About the Seller
Rooke Books
Biblio member since 2007
BATH, Somerset
About Rooke Books
Welcome to Rooke Books Antiquarian Bookseller
We are a small team dedicated to bringing you very scarce books at reasonable prices. We specialise in rare and hard to come by works on all subjects over the last 500 years, together with modern first editions and decorative sets and bindings. Our library has something for every interest and specialism. We deliver worldwide using a fully tracked and insured courier delivery service.
Where are We?
Based in the literary city of Bath, our offices are housed in the Eastern Dispensary. Built in 1845, the building originally existed as a charitable institution providing medical care. The building now houses our collection of over twenty thousand books and has five full time members of staff.
We are a small team dedicated to bringing you very scarce books at reasonable prices. We specialise in rare and hard to come by works on all subjects over the last 500 years, together with modern first editions and decorative sets and bindings. Our library has something for every interest and specialism. We deliver worldwide using a fully tracked and insured courier delivery service.
Where are We?
Based in the literary city of Bath, our offices are housed in the Eastern Dispensary. Built in 1845, the building originally existed as a charitable institution providing medical care. The building now houses our collection of over twenty thousand books and has five full time members of staff.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Tail
- The heel of the spine.
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
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