Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism "The American" is an uneasy combination of social comedy and melodrama concerning the adventures and misadventures of Christopher Newman. He is an essentially good-hearted but rather gauche American businessman on his first tour of Europe. Newman is looking for a world different from the simple, harsh realities of 19thcentury American business. He encounters both the beauty and the ugliness of Europe, and learns not to take either for granted.