Henry James Fansite

The Ambassadors is a novel written and published in 1903 by Henry James. A darker sort of comedy, it was originally published as a serial and is among the last of James’ novels.

The Ambassadors tells the story of Lambert Strether, a middle-aged but inexperienced man who agrees to go to Paris for his fiancee and rescue her son from a ‘wicked’ woman.

Upon arriving in Paris and meeting son Chad, however, Strether discovers that the woman is not wretched at all, but rather a lovely daughter named Jeanne. She also has a mother, Marie, and Strether isn’t sure which one Chad is more attracted to. At any rate Strether grows to love the place and, deciding Chad has grown immeasurably while in Paris, advises him not to return to the United States.

The fiancee, now impatient, sends new emissaries to bring Chad back, the most fearsome of which is Strether’s sister. She demands Chad return. Strether takes his leave of this spectacle and tours France - only to come across Chad and mother Marie in an inn.

Realizing their commitment to one another, Strether insists they remain together in France. Despite this insistence, however, Strether can’t bring himself to stay, and he heads home.