The Bostonians | The Bostonians

At a glance:

Author: Henry James
First Published: 1885
Type of Work: Novel
Type of Plot: Psychological realism
Time of Work: Early 1870’s
Setting: Massachusetts and New York City
Principal Characters: Olive Chancellor, Mrs. Adeline Luna, Basil Ransom, Verena Tarrant, “Doctor” Selah Tarrant, Mrs. Tarrant, Miss Birdseye, Dr. Prance, Mrs. Farrinder, Mrs. Burrage, Henry Burrage
Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
Subjects: New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Nineteenth century, New York City, Social issues, New England, Reformers, Women’s rights, Hypnotism
Locales: New York, NY, Boston, MA

Olive Chancellor, a Boston activist in the women’s movement, was entertaining her cousin Basil Ransom, a Mississippian who lived in New York City. She invited him to join her at a gathering at the home of Mrs. Birdseye, a leader in the movement. Though he disagreed with the ideals of the feminists, Ransom accepted, partly out of curiosity and partly to meet Mrs. Farrinder, a national spokesperson for women’s rights. At Mrs. Birdseye’s, Ransom expressed his views on the movement to Dr. Prance, a woman who had become successful in a traditionally male profession....

The Bostonians | The Bostonians

At a glance:

The Story:

Join eNotes