The Coxon Fund - Published 1915 - 111 Pages
PLUS
The Altar Of The Dead - Published 1916 - 73 Pages
By Henry James
Published by Martin Secker: London
"
Henry James's The Coxon Fund is a finely wrought social comedy that turns on the moral tensions between idealism, hypocrisy, and self-interest in Edwardian society. Centred on a bequest intended to reward "the cleverest man in England," the story unfolds through James's characteristic psychological subtlety, exposing the quiet manoeuvrings and ethical compromises of those drawn into the orbit of the fund. With light irony and precise observation, James explores how generosity can become distorted by ambition, and how public virtue often masks private calculation, all rendered in his mature, economical late style.
The Altar of the Dead offers a darker, more introspective counterpoint, delving into themes of memory, grief, and emotional fixation. The narrative follows a man devoted to commemorating the dead while struggling to reconcile remembrance with the living claims of love and human connection. Haunting and restrained, the tale reflects James's deep interest in interior life and moral consciousness, where devotion can become both an act of reverence and a form of quiet self-imprisonment. Together, these two works form a compelling pairing, appealing especially to admirers of Henry James's shorter fiction, collectors of early 20th-century literary editions, and readers drawn to psychologically nuanced studies of morality and memory."
General wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. Binding in excellent shape with no loose pages. Pages are clean and well presented. Contemporary inscriptions only. Nice copies in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
