Henry James

An item at American Writers Museum

In his essay "The Art of Fiction" (1884), Henry James advocated for unfettered imagination. The only obligation of a novel, he said, "is that it be interesting." He followed his own advice, offering fascinating insights into the interior lives of his characters. James's older brother, William, the great scholar of psychology and philosophy, coined the phrase "stream of consciousness." Henry James's fiction brought the term to life.

Many of his novels sent Americans to Europe. In The Portrait of a Lady (1881), Isabel Archer leaves Albany, New York (where James grew up), for Italy. In The Wings of the Dove (1902), American heiress Milly Theale relocates to London. James enjoyed contrasting New World purity with Old World complexity.

AMERICAN VOICES

An exhibit at American Writers Museum

American writing is distinctive, diverse, and comes in many forms from across the nation. The 100 authors featured here represent the evolution of American writing. Learn more about each writer on the timeline by turning the panels below their portraits. Explore centuries of writing by pulling, turning, and touching the interactive elements on the counter.

This is not meant to be a list of the greatest or most influential writers. Instead, we present authors and works as part of the American story as it grows and changes. Taken together, this rich literary heritage reflects America in all of its complexity: its energy, hope, conflict, disillusionment, and creativity.

American Writers Museum