Henry James — French Poets and Novelists

London, Macmillan, 1878 . First edition. Cloth. A very smart copy of the first edition of this fascinating work of literary criticism by Henry James. The first edition of this work, which was James's first work of literary criticism.Structured as a series of essays, the work reveals James's deep familiarity with French poetry and literature, which he began reading from a young age.The work includes two lengthy essays on the novelist James regarded as his most important mentor, Honore de Balzac. With a discussion of Russian author Ivan Turgenev also present. Edel, A5a. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with small losses of cloth in these regions. Light fading and tide marks to boards. 'First Ed' stamp to head of front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright, with only the odd spot, and one or two neat pencil notations to margins. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed .