The Bostonians

*The Bostonians* is a novel by Henry James, published in 1886. It explores societal clashes in Boston during the 19th century, focusing on themes of gender roles, feminism, and political activism. The story revolves around three main characters: Olive Chancellor, a passionate feminist; her friend and cousin Basil Ransom, a Southern lawyer with traditional values; and Verena Tarrant, a young woman eager for social change. The novel examines their relationships and the differing visions of progress and gender roles, capturing the complexities of social reform and personal ambitions in a rapidly changing America.