The Ambassadors by Henry James 1963 Heritage Press Classic Literature Literary gift books

This is a near fine (almost like new) hardcover with accompanying slipcase. 1963 Heritage Press. This copy includes the original Sandglass pamphlet as issued. It is still crisp and clean inside and out. The inside pages are crisp and clean. The binding is tight and straight and as always with Heritage Press, bound in fine sewn binding for durability and aesthetics. The edition is bound in black cloth with gold lettering along spine. The cloth hardcover boards are also near fine with only a hint of shelf wear. The accompanying slipcase is very good and solid, clean with only very light shelf wear. Royal octavo book size or 7" x 10" with 384 pages.


The Ambassadors by Henry James is a dark comedy of classic literature. This edition is finely illustrated by Leslie Salzburg and includes an Intro by the author.
Written in narrative, Lewis Lambert Strether is sent to Europe to retrieve the son (Chad) of his fiancé. Strether's view of things shifts from an American view to European view. His fiancé believes her son may be overstaying his trip to Europe because of an illicit romantic relationship or other unsavory liaisons. Either way, Strether's pending engagement may be at risk if he fails to retrieve the young man.
Upon finding him, Strether discovers that Chad is surprisingly an improved man of culture and manners. He introduces the Strether to his friends whom Strether finds charming.
Meanwhile, the fiancé is running out of patience and sends new "ambassadors" to fetch them both home. As the two return, they will soon find themselves wondering about their existence back in the states and are both left felling "less alive". The theme of liberation and the constraints of societal expectations run throughout.

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