Other editions of book The Europeans

One of James’ rare comedies, The Europeans tells the story of two siblings from Europe visiting their relatives in New England. A true “fish out of water” tale, the siblings are surprised to find their American relatives more rigid and puritanical than expected. Despite differences and misunderstandings, the two still manage to find happiness and love in the new world.

Eugenia and her bohemian brother, Felix, are coming back to America. They were raised and cultured in Europe and want to seek out their rich and innocent cousins. Eugenia wins the attentions of Robert Acton, while also seducing her younger cousin, Clifford. But her foreign gentility and audacity confuse the puritanical customs of the New World. On the other hand, Felix's luxurious romantic ways are attractive to American women. The short novel "The Europeans", first published in 1878, is the confrontation of two cultures with their differing values and expectations. It shows Henry James' comic genius.

Eugenia, a baroness divorced from a German prince, and her bohemian brother, Felix, are coming back to America. Raised and cultured in Europe, they are returning destitute to New England to seek out their rich and innocent cousins. Eugenia wins the attentions of Robert Acton, the most appropriate suitor in the area, while also seducing her younger cousin, Clifford. But her foreign gentility and audacity confuse the puritanical customs of the New World. On the other hand, Felix's luxurious romantic ways find acceptance with the American women. But misunderstandings of a different kind complicate his plans. In a bungle of culture clash and love triangles, the Europeans hang their fortunes upon their ability to adapt. Where their scheming leads them is the last place they expect.

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Eugenia, an American expatriate brought up in Europe, arrives in rural New England with her charming brother Felix, hoping to find a wealthy second husband after the collapse of her marriage to a German prince. Their exotic, sophisticated airs cause quite a stir with their affluent, God-fearing American cousins, the Wentworths and provoke the disapproval of their father, suspicious of foreign influences. The arrival of the frivolous, handsome Felix is especially enchanting to Gertrude Wentworth, who is struggling against her sombre puritan upbringing. One of Henry James's most optimistic novels, The Europeans (1878) is a subtle and gently ironic examination of manners and morals, deftly portraying the impact of Old World experience on New World innocence.

As The Europeans opens, Eugenia and Felix, the "Europeans" of the title, are in Boston. Recently her marriage to a German prince has come apart, and she and her brother Felix are visiting relatives in the countryside near Boston, looking to arrange a wealthy second marriage for Eugenia. It's a satire on a certain level -- a masterly short novel (well, short for James) that shows what Rebecca West calles James's "clear sunlit charm"; for good reason it's become one of James's most popular novels.

Eugenia, a baroness divorced from a German prince, and her bohemian brother, Felix, are coming back to America. Raised and cultured in Europe, they are returning destitute to New England to seek out their rich and innocent cousins. Eugenia wins the attentions of Robert Acton, the most appropriate suitor in the area, while also seducing her younger cousin, Clifford. But her foreign gentility and audacity confuse the puritanical customs of the New World. On the other hand, Felix's luxurious romantic ways find acceptance with the American women. But misunderstandings of a different kind complicate his plans. In a bungle of culture clash and love triangles, the Europeans hang their fortunes upon their ability to adapt. Where their scheming leads them is the last place they expect.

Henry James (15 April 1843 – 28 February 1916) was an American-born writer who traveled Europe for much of his younger life. Born to a wealthy family that emphasized education, James was tutored by teachers from all over Europe during his adolescence and briefly attended Harvard Law School before deciding to concentrate on writing. James is considered one of the key contributors to nineteenth century literary realism, and some of his best known novels include The American, Daisy Miller, and The Portrait of a Lady.

The tale opens in Boston and New England in the middle of the 19th century, and describes the experiences of two European siblings shifting from the old to the new world. The two protagonists are Eugenia Munster and Felix Young, who since their early childhood have lived in Europe, moving from France to Italy and from Spain to Germany. In this last place, Eugenia entered into a Morganatic marriage with Prince Adolf of Silberstadt-Schreckenstein, the younger brother of the reigning prince who is now being urged by his family to dissolve the marriage for political reasons. Because of this, Eugenia and Felix decide to travel to America to meet their distant cousins, so that Eugenia may "seek her fortune" in the form of a wealthy American husband. All the cousins live in the countryside around Boston and spend a lot of time together. The first encounter with them corresponds to the first visit of Felix to his family. Mr Wentworth’s family is a puritanical one, far from the Europeans' habits. Felix is fascinated by the patriarchal Mr Wentworth, his son, Clifford, and two daughters, Gertrude and Charlotte. They spend a lot of time together with Mr. Robert Acton and his sister Lizzie, their neighbours. Eugenia’s reaction after this first approach differs from Felix’s. She is not really interested in sharing her time with this circle. She doesn’t like the Wentworth ladies and does not want to visit them frequently. In contrast, her brother is very happy to share his spare time with Charlotte and Gertrude, spending hours in their piazza or garden creating portraits of the two ladies.