What is the true American identity? This question, still relevant today, was a core issue in the 19th century art and literature. In Point of View , Henry James is searching for an answer deep into the hearts and minds of his characters. By bringing together the enthusiasm of a young woman, the fear of an over-protective mother or the boredom of an upper class snob, James constructs a complex picture to which each one of us can relate… Henry James (1843 - 1916) is regarded one of the greatest novelists in the English language. Born in the United States, but mainly living and working in Europe, he was largely occupied with the clash of personalities and cultures between the Old World and the New World. He explored this topic in his famous novels The Portrait of a Lady and The Wings of the Dove . James was thrice nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature.