Henry James 
The Europeans 

‘The Europeans’ is a short novel by Henry James, published in 1878.  It marks an important point in the early phase of his development as a novelist.



‘The Europeans’ is an early example of a subject which Henry James was to make into his signature theme in later works – the clash between the Old World and the New – more specifically between traditional nineteenth century Europe and the democratic and republican states of north America. More specifically still, in ‘The Europeans’ it is between the self-denying and rather strict puritanism of New England and the raffish Bohemian ‘sophistication’ of European adventurers who have mixed motives. The novel is essentially a comedy contrasting the behaviour and attitudes of two visitors from Europe with those of their relatives living in the ‘new’ world of New England.