Henry James and the Culture of Publicity [Paperback]

By drawing upon contemporary critical theory, Salmon offers a reassessment of the politics of James's cultural criticism.This book examines the relationship between the writings of Henry James and the historical formation of mass culture. Throughout his career, James was concerned with such characteristically modern cultural forms as advertising, biography, and the new journalism. Richard Salmon's study situates James's fiction and criticism within the context of the contemporary debates surrounding these rival discursive practices. He explores both the nature of James's contribution to the critique of mass culture and offers a reassessment of the politics of James's cultural criticism.This book examines the relationship between the writings of Henry James and the historical formation of mass culture. Throughout his career, James was concerned with such characteristically modern cultural forms as advertising, biography, and the new journalism. Richard Salmon's study situates James's fiction and criticism within the context of the contemporary debates surrounding these rival discursive practices. He explores both the nature of James's contribution to the critique of mass culture and offers a reassessment of the politics of James's cultural criticism.This book examines the relationship between the writings of Henry James and the historical formation of mass culture. Throughout his career, James was concerned with such characteristically modern cultural forms as advertising, biography, and the new journalism. Richard Salmon's study situates James' fiction and criticism within the context of the contemporary debates surrounding these rival discursive practices. He explores both the nature of James' contribution to the critique of mass culture and offers a reassessment of the politics of James' cultural criticism.List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Transformations of the public sphere in The Bostonians; 2. What the public wants: criticism, theatre and the 'masses'; 3ló