William Wetmore Story and His Friends (Abridged, Annotated)

Book excerpt: Henry James' masterful biography of the life of American sculptor, William Story, is a long-forgotten treasure. He includes excerpts of letters from Story's large circle of prominent friends, including Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, James Russell Lowell, Charles Sumner, and others. James, knowing his subject was not a significant figure, chose to make the book more about a reminiscence of Italy (where he had met Story) and the far more prominent people who were friends of Story's. The biography then became by turns a fascinating look at art, Europe, and Americans abroad as only Henry James could have written it. Includes Volume I and Volume II. Well-received when published in 1903, for the first time, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.