The Ambassadors

A middle-aged man named Lambert Strether is sent to Paris by his wealthy wife-to-be in order to convince her son Chad to return home to America and take over the lucrative family business. This turns out to be much easier said than done, as Strether finds Chad much better adapted to European life than anyone expected.James' characteristically dense prose is matched by a cast of subtly realized characters who shape Strether's experience of Europe and his growing disillusionment with the values he brings from America. The novel is widely considered one of James's greatest achievements.Perfect for readers who appreciate psychological depth and literary fiction, The Ambassadors rewards careful reading with its exploration of cultural difference, moral ambiguity, and the costs of living according to other people's expectations.