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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Classic Literature / Psychological Fiction / Social Satire / Romance

Book Review:
Henry James’s The American (1877) is a fascinating exploration of the clash between American and European values. Christopher Newman, a wealthy but unpolished American businessman, arrives in Paris seeking a wife. He falls in love with Claire de Bellegarde, a young aristocratic widow. But her proud French family is horrified by Newman’s “brash” New World manners and opposes the marriage. Newman uncovers a dark family secret and plans a devastating revenge — only to show mercy at the last moment. James’s prose is elegant and psychologically sharp. This Collins Classics edition includes a ‘Life & Times’ section and a glossary. A fine introduction to James’s international theme