Roderick Hudson

Originally serialised in the Atlantic Monthly during 1875 and published in book form later in the same year, Roderick Hudson was James' first novel notwithstanding the earlier Watch and Ward, which the author preferred to disregard. Strong with autobiographical elements, the plot concerns travails and travels of the eponymous character, a talented sculptor, and his relationship with Rowland Mallet. Recognising Hudson's talent as an artist, Mallet resolves to fund a move to Europe. On the same day he falls in love with Mary Garland, a house guest to the Hudsons. Unable to declare his love, he leaves for Europe with Hudson only to discover that before he left the artist had proposed to Garland and she had accepted. With such a tension between the two characters, James fashions a plot to take advantage of it.