Bell, Millicent. Meaning in Henry James. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1991. Examines James’s novels in reference to narrative theory. Analysis of The Ambassadors focuses on narrative techniques and shows the relationship between narrative and meaning.

Edel, Leon. Henry James: A Life. Rev. ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1985. A classic biography. Places The Ambassadors in the context of James’s biography, showing its place in James’s life and in his stylistic development. Good for those interested in biographical criticism.

Fussel, Edwin Sill. The French Side of Henry James. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. A good analysis of James’s novels set wholly or partly in France. Discussion of The Ambassadors shows the importance of place to the theme in James’s work. Explains specific French concepts and images in the novel.

Griffin, Susan M. “The Selfish Eye: Strether’s Principles of Psychology.” In On Henry James: The Best from American Literature, edited by Louis J. Budd and Edwin H. Cady. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1990.

Grover, Philip. Henry James and the French Novel. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1973. Introduces the French portion of the James canon. Traces the influence of French Impressionism and other French elements on The Ambassadors.

Hocks, Richard A. Henry James and Pragmatistic Thought. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1974.

McElderry, Bruce R., Jr. Henry James. New York: Twayne, 1965.

Wagenknecht, Edward. The Novels of Henry James. New York: Frederick Ungar, 1983. Excellent basic study of James’s novels. The chapter on The Ambassadors presents an enlightening reading of the novel and places it at the highest point of James’s achievement.

Yeazell, Ruth Bernard. Language and Knowledge in the Late Novels of Henry James. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976.