The Soft Side, Henry James — 1st Edition

£179.00

The Soft Side, Henry James — 1st Edition

Name: The Soft Side, Henry James — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4206-RM-F-G-2
Price: 179.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£179.00

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Publication: London, Methuen & Co., 1900

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 392, [48] publisher's catalogue.

Condition Report: Good. Bound in original publisher's red cloth, featuring gilt titling to the front board and spine. Binding remains structurally sound but exhibits visible signs of age and shelf-wear. Both boards are affected by scattered damp-staining, mottling, and general darkening, particularly along the margins. The spine is noticeably sunned and darkened, with rubbing and slight fraying present at the head and tail. Corners are mildly bumped and worn. Internally, the most prominent flaw is the pronounced browning and offset shadowing to the front endpapers, though a common chemical reaction from the acidic paper stock and binding glues used during this era. The main textblock, however, remains comparatively clean and unmarked, retaining a firm and legible presentation throughout.

Catalogue Note: This represents the First UK Edition of Henry James's celebrated collection of short fiction, published simultaneously with the American edition by Macmillan. Bound in the publisher's standard red cloth with clean, unornamented gilt tooling, this Methuen edition is highly characteristic of early 20th-century British literary releases.

The stories contained within, such as "The Great Good Place," "Europe," and "Paste," capture James during his crucial transition into his complex, psychological 'major phase.'

While the exterior binding exhibits the typical wear and darkening expected of Methuen’s red cloth after over a century, it remains an un-restored, honest example of a highly significant author's work. Unaltered copies of this title in their original state are becoming increasingly scarce on the open market, particularly as collectors often seek out the UK imprints for their distinctive, austere bindings.

The Soft Side is a masterfully nuanced collection of twelve short stories that perfectly bridges the gap between Henry James's middle period and the dense, psychological complexity of his later masterpieces. Featuring celebrated tales such as "The Great Good Place" and "The Tree of Knowledge," the stories explore Jamesian hallmarks: the burdens of social expectation, the unreliability of memory, and the intricate web of human consciousness. Through these vignettes, James scrutinises the subtle dynamics of late 19th-century transatlantic society, offering readers a fascinating glimpse into the internal lives of characters trapped by both convention and their own desires.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Henry James

Book Publisher: Methuen & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 392

Book Publication Year: 1900

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Cloth)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.