Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Bostonians (The Unabridged Edition)
The Bostonians (The Unabridged Edition) | Henry James
The Bostonians is a novel by Henry James. This bittersweet tragicomedy centers on an odd triangle of characters: Basil Ransom, a political conservative from Mississippi; Olive Chancellor, Ransom's cousin and a Boston feminist; and Verena Tarrant, a pretty, young prot?? of Olive's in the feminist movement. The storyline concerns the struggle between Ransom and Olive for Verena's allegiance and affection, though the novel also includes a wide panorama of political activists, newspaper people, and quirky eccentrics. Unlike much of James' work, The Bostonians deals with explicitly political themes: feminism and the general role of women in society. James was at best ambivalent about the feminist movement, and the early chapters harshly satirize Olive and her fellow ideologues. Another theme in the book, much discussed recently, is Olive's possible lesbian attraction to Verena. (The term Boston marriage, apparently first used here by James, came to connote just such an ambiguous co-habiting long-term relationship between two women.) James is not explicit here, partially due to the conventions of the time. But this vagueness may actually enrich the novel because it creates possible ambiguity about Olive's motives.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
mom2bugnbee
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Once again, I've been away & I'm back. ☺

It's been a busy season - in May, my older daughter graduated from Boston University & my younger daughter finished her freshman year at Dean College. I'm teaching a summer course right now which is keeping me quite busy, but in two weeks I will have much more time on my hands! I've missed you, Littens! Here's to being more consistent on the beat social media platform ever! ♥

tpixie Congrats 🎈 5mo
Amiable Yay, Terrier! Congrats! 5mo
37 likes2 comments
blurb
vlwelser
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

My local neighborhood library is ready for Patriots Day. Aka Marathon Monday 💙💛

review
Litsi
The Bostonians | Henry James
Panpan

What a grand idea to write a novel about a Mississipian displaced by the Civil War coming to NY to make his career but who, when he falls in love, runs into resistance from New England reformers about the place of women in society. Should they be wives or emancipators of women? Unfortunately, James is not up to the task of weaving this is into a story. Boring. #litsyclassics

blurb
Kappadeemom
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

FortunateSon Maybe 'A Drink Before the War' by Dennis Lehane? That's the first book in his Kenzie & Gennaro series. 2y
brittanyreads I've not read these but they are on my TBR... 2y
See All 13 Comments
5feet.of.fury I can only think of ones that are also movies… 2y
Ruthiella Any book from Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. 2y
ncsufoxes I just ordered this one, it‘s supposed to take place in the Boston public library 2y
Read4life Lisa Gardner‘s DD Warren books 2y
Kappadeemom @ncsufoxes this sounds good! 2y
Bookzombie Tess Gerritsen‘s Rizzoli and Isles series is set in Boston. The books are darker than the show. 2y
33 likes13 comments
blurb
AFrostCauseReads
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Found a cool little free library while walking around Boston!!!

Karisa That‘s the largest “little” free library I‘ve ever seen! Nice! Find anything? 3y
marleed Wow. That‘s the coolest biggest LFL I‘ve seen yet! 3y
21 likes2 comments
blurb
LMJenkins
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

“I was starstruck. I never stopped being starstruck. It was never not cool to work there.“ @hmhbooks

Good article - https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2021/05/03/houghton-mifflin-harcourt-boston-han...

blurb
Littlestbookshelf
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

I saw this in a little book shop in Boston years ago when my now husband took me to New England and proposed. Its my duty to get more books! 🙌🙌

blurb
Lcsmcat
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

This James is still TBR for me, but it‘s waiting patiently on my Kindle. #Boston #AugustisaTrip @vkois88 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💚💚💚 6y
vkois88 I love the way the couple on the front look like they're gliding 6y
Lcsmcat @vkois88 I know! I wish I could move that gracefully. 6y
vkois88 Right?!? Lol 6y
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
toofondofbooks
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image
Rachbb3 Love that edition! 💗 6y
29 likes1 comment
blurb
TheBookDream
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Spent a couple night with this for the skyline. So nice! #Boston #Arisia #Arisia2018

Megara 😮 how magical! 7y
38 likes1 comment
blurb
KimHM
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

I was in Boston over Thanksgiving and omg the library!

blurb
callielafleur
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Had an awesome day doing bookish things around Boston, including the awesome Boston Book Fest. Book haul will be posted soon!

tpixie I can‘t believe I‘m in Boston and missed this!!! Ugg! 7y
callielafleur You'll have to come back next year!! It's always a good time. 7y
31 likes2 comments
blurb
mauveandrosysky
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

It was a good day in Boston, where counter-protesters outnumbered the planned hate speech rally 400:1. Proud to have been a part of it!

JenP Good for you! Wish I could have gone 7y
BarbaraBB 💪 7y
See All 9 Comments
OneLitChick Boston Strong! 7y
LauraBeth ❤️❤️ 7y
Suet624 You have no idea how happy I was today because of this. I was jumping up and down in Kinney Drugs and then calling one of my daughters to tell her. A 2-mile long group of people proving that love wins over hate. 7y
sprainedbrain Thank you to all of you! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
mrozzz Wow! Power to you 🙌🏻🤘🏻👊🏻 7y
BooksForEmpathy YES!!!! Next week it's in SF. 7y
56 likes9 comments
blurb
swishandflick
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

I'm in Boston this week and staying a short walking distance from the gorgeous Boston Public Library - that reading room has my name all over it! A friend of mine also suggested Trident Booksellers and Cafe, which I'm excited to check out. Any other bookish recommendations?!

PandaPanda Go to brattle books it's by downtown crossing and a very cool old bookstore with amazing sales racks. I'm embarrassed to say I went for the first time today even though I pass it constantly 7y
swishandflick @PandaPanda Thanks for the tip!! Looks awesome 😄 7y
L_auren That covers the downtown spots! If you have the time and the will you can take the green line to the Brookline Booksmith. There are also some book stores practically on the Harvard campus. Lots to choose from! Let me know if you want a bookish tour guide; I'm right around the corner! 7y
See All 8 Comments
Bookcation74 Seconding @L_auren suggestion of Brookline Booksmith - make sure to check out the used books downstairs! 7y
SiriuslyBookish There's a cafe called Algiers Coffee House, near Harvard Square. Great food, coffee and atmosphere. Arab style decorations and old books to look at about the Middle East. So cool and different! 7y
Lmstraubie I 2nd #brattlebookshop. It has a wonderful history behind it. When the weather is nice they also have books set up outside. The Boston Public Library is gorgeous! Visit the courtyard as well. Finally be on the lookout for the statue of Mr. Poe & Make way for Ducklings both near the Commons. Have a fantastic time!!! 7y
brittanyreads I, also, recommend the Brattle Book Shop! 👍 (edited) 7y
87 likes8 comments
blurb
krismlars
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Hello from Boston! I basically had to quit reading for the month of June so I could move from Colorado to the Boston area. But I'm here, somewhat unpacked, at the new job, and getting back into a routine. Hopefully I'll find some time to read all those books that I lugged across the country. I've missed you all!

sprainedbrain Welcome back!! 7y
underthebelljar Welcome back! 😁 7y
19 likes2 comments
blurb
theladygreer
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Running around Boston on #booktour signing stock at indie bookstores & loving it! At Brookline Booksmith I met Amy, who had made The Magician's Lie a staff pick at the store. So grateful! #getindie

LeahBergen Fun! 8y
Booknerd2 Just got my notification from my library that Girl in Disguise is ready for me to pick up. So excited. ❤️ the Magician's 🎩 Lie!!! 8y
Bookcation74 My bookstore! I'll try to swing by this weekend and pick up a copy! 8y
32 likes4 comments
review
schmia
Bostonians (Revised) | Henry James
Pickpick

The central conflict between Olive and Basil as they battle for Verena's heart and soul feels uncomfortably resonant thinking about the contemporary political scene -- and the final climactic scene feels like a fever dream in a way this past month since the election has felt, except we can't wake up from the latter. I would recommend giving this one a try.

review
BrittanyJ
Bostonians (Revised) | Henry James
Mehso-so

Shame James put himself, in the guise of humor and gentle mockery, into a social-political position that shows up his stuffiness. Personal and not social critique is his domain, as it turns out. Just because you can turn (and twist and turn and twist) a sentence doesn't mean you can't embarrass yourself with lack of forward thinking. Remember when Daisy Miller caught a moral fatal illness? Shoulda seen it coming. Stick with Wings of the Dove

blurb
LukewarmSiren
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

My newest used book buys!
#classics #usedbooks

7 likes2 stack adds
blurb
bandigiu
The Bostonians | Henry James
post image

Lots of great independent bookstores in Boston. This is my favourite. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📚
#GetIndie