The Lesson of the Master

The Lesson of the Master is a novella by Henry James about life and art, the choice that an artist must make, and the life that art makes. It’s the story of a young writer, Paul Overt, who becomes friends with Henry St. George, a famous author, at about the same time that he meets the love of his life. St. George tells Paul that he ought to dedicate himself to writing, and warns him against the distraction of a wife and family; he goes out of his way to persuade the young writer that marriage would destroy his creativity. Overwhelmed, Paul goes off on an extended holiday in order to consider the older writer’s advice. A shock awaits him when he returns …