Henry James — The Awkward Age

London, William Heinemann, 1899. First edition. Cloth. A smart first issue of this largely reflective turn-of-the-century novel from Henry James. The first issue of the first edition in book form. In the original cloth binding, with four irises blind-stamped to the front board. Complete with a thirty-two page catalogue of publisher's advertisements to the rear. First serialised in Harper's Weekly in 1898-99, this dialogue-heavy novel follows a young society woman named Nanda whose attempts at marriage are foiled by various members of her mother's social circle. Not only does the work touch on themes of societal pressures and coming of age, it widens into a general treatment of decadence and corruption of English 'fin de siecle' life.  In the original cloth binding. Externally, smart, with rubbing and bumping to the extremities. Slight fading to the spine and a few light marks to the boards. Ownership bookplate of one Caroline Marriage to the front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with minor offsetting to the rear endpaper and the very odd spot or handling mark. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .