An International Episode

An International Episode

This version of Henry James’ An International Episode, published in 1892, contains 30 illustrations, drawn by Harry McVickar. One of these illustrations appears at the very start of the book, before any of the chapters. This particular illustration depicts a side-by-side of what appears to be The Great Seal of the United States, and a version of the United Kingdom Royal Arms. The Royal Arms consists of a crown on the top, as well as a shield split into quarters. The first quarter represents England, the second Scotland, the third Ireland, and the fourth is also England (“Royal Coat’’). Set in 1874, James’ novella concerns two English men, Lord Lambeth and Percy Beaumont, coming from London to America, where they meet two American women, Kitty and Bessie. From the first image alone, readers may surmise that the two cultures of the old world, England, and the new world, America, will unite through the characters. While the two arms are alongside each other, they do not touch. Furthermore, the ribbons that adorn the image meet in the center only moderately. This slight intermingling of the two worlds, as seen through this image, could represent the intermingling of cultures amongst the characters in the book. While this is a seemingly obvious claim given the title, it is interesting to note that James wanted An International Episode “to be complementary” to his preceding novel, Daisy Miller (“Daisy Miller”). Daisy Miller is the tale of an American woman abroad in Italy and Switzerland, that brings the new world to the old world (James). The protagonist ultimately meets her end due to Roman Fever, but symbolically because of her failure to adapt to European high society. Contrastingly, in An International Episode, James brings the old world to the new world, through two Englishmen. Given this context, readers can see whether or not Percy and Lambeth meet the same fate as Daisy, and how their time spent in America, is similar or dissimilar from Daisy’s time in Europe. The social implications and gender implications of 19th century Europe and America may lie in the similarities and differences between these two works.

“Daisy Miller and An International Episode.” Henry James - Oxford University Press, Oxford University
Press, 2017, global.oup.com.

James, Henry. Daisy Miller. Penguin Classics, 2007.

“Royal Coat of Arms.” BritRoyals, Britroyals, www.britroyals.com/arms.asp.

Henry James

Manhattan College, Fales Collection

Harper & Brothers

1892

Harry W. McVickar, Illustrator

Manhattan College

Octavo, 160 pages, 30 illustrations

Novella