Seeing and Believing Henry James and the Spiritual World [Hardcover]

This study looks at Henry James's response to the collapse of religious belief in the nineteenth century in his late novels and shorter works. Hutchison's work argues that James's fascination with perception and consciousness should be read in the context of his desire to dramatize a level of human experience beyond the material.Preface: Relatives, Relationships, Relativity The Language of Uncertainty The Creed of Hesitation: Guy Domville and The Turn of the Screw The Unapproachable Face: The Sacred Fount The Vain Appearance: The Ambassadors The Sacred Hush: The Wings of the Dove The Poetry of the Soul in Action: The Golden Bowl Conclusion: Endless Connections

Hutchison places Henry James in the context of the religious conflicts and theological debates that surrounded Darwin and the intellectual awakening in nineteenth century England. This is a long-overdue look at James in these terms. Marilyn Gaull, New York University

HAZEL HUTCHISON is Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, UK.