Title: Citizens of somewhere else
First published: 1999
Description: "I am a citizen of somewhere else," proclaimed Nathaniel Hawthorne in his preface to The Scarlet Letter. In many ways, Henry James shared that citizenship. Intrigued by their resolute stance as outsiders, Dan McCall here reassesses these two quintessentially American writers. He focuses on their works and on their connections to American history and culture.

Adopting an informal, conversational tone, McCall invites us to join him in a reading of some of Hawthorne's and James's masterpieces - not only The Scarlet Letter and The Portrait of a Lady but their great short stories, extensive notebooks, and other novels as well. He explains the significance of James's book Hawthorne, shows the influence of Emerson on both writers, and conveys throughout James's imaginative debt to Hawthorne.

He concludes by comparing their views on what it means to be an American writer.
Subjects: Literature, Knowledge, History and criticism, Influence, Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.), National characteristics, American, in literature, Americans, In literature, American fiction, America, History, Travel, Hawthorne, nathaniel, 1804-1864, James, henry, 1843-1916, Knowledge and learning
Places: United States, Great Britain
People: Henry James (1843-1916), Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
Time periods: 19th century
LC classification: PS2127.L5 M38 1999