A Henry James Encyclopedia

This brilliant faultless impeccably constructed work will maintain its status as an outstanding research tool invaluable both to undergraduate students and to scholars of James. It is unquestionably worthy of `The Master'' its subject. ChoiceCalled a Shakespeare of the novel and America''s only fully realized literary artist by Leon Edel his prize-winning biographer Henry James was also one of the most prolific American writers. His massive literary output included approximately 300 critical essays 134 novels and stories 15 plays and some 15000 letters. A Henry James Encyclopedia offers both the interested reader and committed scholar a wealth of information about James and his work never before available in one volume. More than 3000 entries summarize each of James''s works describe every fictional and dramatic character in them identify writers and artists James reviewed discuss each important man and woman he associated with or wrote to and define members of his extended family.The extensive encyclopedia section is preceded by a chronology that details important events in James''s life. The encyclopedia itself is arranged alphabetically in one continuous set of entries making it extremely easy to find specific information. Cross references are indicated by asterisks. In addition twelve appendices list James''s works contacts and characters by type (Plays Friends of James Actors Actresses Theater Managers Composers and Singers Mentioned by James and so on). A bibliography completes the volume. The only book of its kind ever produced for an American writer A Henry James Encyclopedia will be an indispensable source for Jamesian scholars as well as for students just beginning their study of his work. As such it is an important acquisition for every American literature collection.