Henry James, was an American- English writer. He is regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. Henry James contributed significantly to literary criticism, particularly in his insistence that writers be allowed the greatest possible freedom in presenting their view of the world. He was an advocator for realism in novels, his belief was that a text must contain a representation of life that is recognisable to its readers. This book is a masterly technical achievement by the author, as it follows the title character from earliest childhood to precocious maturity.