Reviewed by Gilbert Seldes
+ Dial 69:83 Jl ’20 3700w
“Mr Lubbock tells us that James left behind him scarcely a document that revealed any trace of the origins of his work. Of the origins of his spirit, his point of view, he yields us scarcely more in the way of documentary evidence. One apprehends him here indeed in certain aspects of intimacy as the son, as the brother, as, if not the friend, at least the fellow-artist, as, perhaps most warmly, the uncle. It is only—only—as the man that he foils our question.” V. W. B.
+ − Freeman 1:164 Ap 28 ’20 1700w Lit D p89 Jl 10 ’20 3450w
“All the more, however, finding him thus restricted as to race and sympathies and images, do we find ourselves admiring the magnificent passion with which he worked at his art. His famous prefaces to his novels and tales are accepted as an indispensable handbook to the art of fiction. No less may his letters be considered indispensable to those serious students and fellow-artists who wish to observe a genius massively revolving and tirelessly experimenting.” C. V. D.
+ Nation 110:690 My 22 ’20 2000w * Nation [London] 27:178 My 8 ’20 1550w
“I am brash enough to venture the prediction that the best book of Henry James’s, the one with the widest appeal, the one with the most permanent interest, the one most easily read, is not to be found among those which he wrote for publication, but is this collection of his correspondence. What these letters bring before us vividly is a warm-hearted James, devoted to his family and dowered with the gift of friendship.” Brander Matthews
+ N Y Times 25:151 Ap 4 ’20 2750w
“Whatever has been deleted does not harm that which gives pleasure and delight, surprising us by the clarity and directness of its style and by the warm sentiment of its friendship.”
+ N Y Times 25:191 Ap 18 ’20 380w