Dual Visions: Henry James, Edith Wharton, and America’s National Narrative

Dual Visions : Henry James, Edith Wharton et le récit national américain

Abstract

n the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, American literary figures explored complex questions of national identity during social transformation. This study examines how Henry James and Edith Wharton's non-fiction works articulate and critique American cultural identity. Through critical discourse analysis, the investigation reveals how their direct commentary illuminates the  relationship between American and European cultural traditions. Their non-fictional writings demonstrate three key patterns: a critique of American exceptionalism, an evolving perspective on racial and social hierarchies, and a nuanced examination of transatlantic cultural exchange. By analyzing their personal correspondence, travel writings, and cultural criticism, this research argues that James and Wharton's works offer unique insights into the formation of American national identity, revealing tensions between cosmopolitan ideals and nationalist impulses that resonate in contemporary discussions of cultural identity.