After seeing her speak at a political rally Olive Chancellor, spirited feminist, and Basil Ransom, conservative southern lawyer become fascinated with the captivating young Verena Tarrant. With very different end goals in mind they both pursue closeness with Verena. Caught between the allure of two very different worlds, Verena must navigate the conflicting desires of those who seek to influence her destiny.
Through its astute exploration of gender roles and societal expectations, The Bostonians remains a compelling examination of the tensions between tradition and progress, idealism and pragmatism.

HENRY JAMES [1843 -1916] was born in New York but emigrated to Europe early in life. He is one of the most important figures in Anglo-Saxon turn-of-the-century literature, with novels such as The American [1877] and the horror novel The Turn of the Screw [1898].