{"product_id":"9781593083786","title":"Ambassadors (Barnes \u0026 Noble Classics Series)","description":"\u003ci\u003eThe Ambassadors\u003c\/i\u003e, by \u003cb\u003eHenry James\u003c\/b\u003e, is part of the \u003ci\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble Classics\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of \u003ci\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble Classics\u003c\/i\u003e: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBiographies of the authors \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFootnotes and endnotes \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSelective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComments by other famous authors \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudy questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBibliographies for further reading \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndices \u0026amp; Glossaries, when appropriate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003eAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. \u003ci\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble Classics \u003c\/i\u003epulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. One of \u003cb\u003eHenry James\u003c\/b\u003e’s three late masterpieces, and an exemplar of his complex, mature style, \u003ci\u003eThe Ambassadors\u003c\/i\u003e is considered by many the author’s finest work. James himself judged it to be “frankly, quite the best, ‘all round,’ of my productions.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe story follows Lambert Strether, a staunch and stoical New Englander, as he travels abroad to rescue his employer’s prodigal son, Chad, from the seductive pitfalls of existence in Paris. Yet the social pleasures of the European capital awaken new urges in the fifty-five year old, and he begins to reconsider his own inadequately realized life. He soon beseeches Chad, “Live all you can; it’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven’t had that what \u003ci\u003ehave\u003c\/i\u003e you had?” \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs Strether himself becomes involved in a relationship with the fascinating Maria Gostrey, a second, more determined, ambassador is dispatched. An ultimatum is delivered—and resisted—but then an accident reveals surprising truths to Strether, and he must decide whether his loyalties lie with old Europe or new America. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eA bittersweet paean to the life not lived, \u003ci\u003eThe Ambassadors\u003c\/i\u003e is one of the most achingly beautiful and moving novels ever written. \u003cb\u003eKyle Patrick Smith\u003c\/b\u003e was raised in San Diego, California, and educated at Harvard. A writer and critic, he lives in Manhattan.","brand":"Barnes \u0026 Noble","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47048701018352,"sku":"9781593083786","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781593083786_p0.jpg?v=1763810358","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781593083786","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}