Henry James
4) Confidence
One of Henry James' specialties is the longish short story that delves into philosophical questions via detailed character studies, and Eugene Pickering is a perfect example of this. In it, James compares and contrasts two archetypes: a bookish scholar who has remained largely sheltered for most of his life and a streetwise "doer" who is deeply engaged with the world around him. Which of these approaches represents the best way to live?
...13) Embarrassments
Though American literary master Henry James was an ardent proponent of realistic story elements that readers could relate to, many of his works also deal with the question of perception and how our senses and beliefs can influence the way we see the world. It's a running theme in the four short stories collected in James' Embarrassments.
14) The Sacred Fount
17) The Birthplace
19) The Pupil
The Moreen family is a loathsome crew of greedy, dishonorable, self-serving twits—with the notable exception of one brilliant, earnest eleven-year-old son, Morgan. When the Moreens secure the services of a young tutor, Pemberton, to guide Morgan's studies (with no intention of ever paying him, of course), the two develop a deep and lasting friendship. Will Pemberton be able to save Morgan from the influence of his family before it's too late?
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