The Literary Criticism of Henry James

The book highlights very jucidly and cogently the usually neglected aspects of henry James i.e. his critical achievement. “At the time of La Harpe”, writes Flaubert. “They (the critics) were grammarians, at the time of St. Beuveand of Taine, they are historians . When will they be artists, only artist, but really artist?” Henry James stood in the presence of Flaubert as a young man and we can say that he has supplied in answer by writing Notes on Novelist, or rather, by his whole criticism. A true reader passionately interested in arts or literature will nasturally feel drawn towards James’ productions, both novels as well as criticism. Art for James, as for F.R. K Levels is not only a perfection of form. Levis defends novels and novelists in James’s manner: moral concern, respect for life, serious criticism of manners and morals. James considered Flaubert most conspicuous of the faithless because he was supposed to have listened at least to the ‘chamber of the soul’. This would have floated flaubert on a deeper tide. James says that Whitman’s claim that he sings the idea of all’ is the flashy limitation of ideas which turns into medley of extravagances and commonplaces. Although james flalled to achieve success as a dramatist hehimself once said that the theatre had given him ‘ a mastery of fundamental statement.’ He says that English novelists have vast experience of the positive kind. James insists that” criticism in the nobler sense of the world is for me, enjoyment,” that the critical principle is ‘the appreciative, the real gustatory.”