Originally published in 1880 as a serial in Cornhill Magazine and Harper s New Monthly Magazine, Washington Square is a structurally simple tragicomedy that recounts the conflict between a dull but sweet daughter and her brilliant, domineering father. The plot of the novel is based upon a true story told to James by his close friend, British actress Fanny Kemble. The book is often compared to Jane Austen s work for the clarity and grace of its prose and its intense focus on family relationships. James was not a great fan of Washington Square itself. Other readers, though, have sufficiently enjoyed the book to make it one of the more popular works of the Jamesian canon.
