The Europeans

First published in 1878, The Europeans is a witty and elegant novel in which Henry James explores the contrasts between Old World sophistication and New World restraint. The story follows the arrival of two European visitors—Felix Young and his sister Eugenia—at the home of their puritanical American relatives in New England. Their charm, worldliness, and ease unsettle the rigid moral codes of the household, setting off a subtle comedy of manners. Through this cultural encounter, James examines identity, freedom, and the unspoken rules that govern society. Light in tone yet sharp in observation, The Europeans is a graceful study of transatlantic difference and the quiet transformations sparked by human connection.