The American

"The American" is an uneasy combination of social comedy and melodrama concerning the adventures and misadventures of Christopher Newman, an essentially good-hearted but rather gauche American businessman on his first tour of Europe. Newman is looking for a world different from the simple, harsh realities of 19th century American business. He encounters both the beauty and the ugliness of Europe, and learns not to take either for granted. The core of the novel concerns Newman's courtship of a young widow from an aristocratic Parisian family. The first half of the novel, Newman's courtship of Claire and his efforts to ingratiate himself with her family, is a witty and perceptive treatment of the clash between Newman's brash and assertive American nature and the haughty, traditionalist views of the French aristocracy; it delights most readers with its humor and grace. The second half of the book descends into melodrama, with the duel, the convent, and the deep dark family secret.