Henry James 
The Tragic Muse 
Victorian Romance Novel

The Tragic Muse presents wide and cheerful panorama of English life through the fortunes of two would-be artists: Nick Dormer, who throws over a political career in his efforts to become a painter, and Miriam Rooth, an actress striving for artistic and commercial success. Nick Dormer wants to pursue a career in painting instead of his family’s traditional role in British politics. Despite his misgivings Nick goes through an election campaign, supported by his lady friend Julia, and wins a seat in Parliament. However, Nick seeks to become an artist and resigns from Parliament , and when Miriam comes from Paris to London in search of theatrical success, she sits to Nick for her portrait as ‘the tragic muse.’

关于作者

Henry James (1843–1916) was an American-British writer who spent most of his writing career in Britain. James is regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He is best known for a number of novels dealing with the social and marital interplay between emigre Americans, English people, and continental Europeans – examples of such novels include The Portrait of a Lady, The Ambassadors, and The Wings of the Dove.