Henry James is a genius of social dynamics, which is evident in this classic, yet lesser-appreciated, novel that looks at politics, social class, and the ever-evolving “Woman Question”. First coming out in serial form, this narrative became a book in 1886 for the first time.
The Bostonians is a tragicomedy about feminism and conservatism colliding in two opposite figures: Confederate war veteran Ransom and feminist firebrand Verena meet under the auspicious eyes of Ransom’s cousin, Olive. Ransom hears Verena give a feminist speech and is both repulsed and fascinated.
Ransom comes from Mississippi to Boston and in this journey, we see the impact of geography and the social scene on character and ideology as Ransom is tested by both Verena’s feminist spirit and the social milieu of Boston.
I appreciate two people embodying different sides of an argument finding mutual fascination: the ultimate dynamic of attraction and repulsion at play.
On publishing, there were critical comments about how James was trivialising the intellectual and political Boston elite and changemakers, showing undue sympathy to the archaic figure of the Southern gentleman. It seems the satirical tone and characters were not appreciated by all, and apparently, Mark Twain said he’d rather go to “John Bunyan’s heaven” than read this.
It’s interesting to see how James tackles politics in this, his most overtly political novel. Maybe the ideas are there, but they get subsumed by human portraiture? Maybe there’s a cynicism at play? Or a grumpy reactionary take? Patriotic nostalgia?
Regardless, James is a master of human psychology, and this pithy book is no different: the age-old tale of a conservative man’s fascination with a feminist woman and her struggle to reconcile her conflicting feelings.
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