Henry James and the “Aliens”: In Possession of The American Scene

Abstract

This study examines Gert Buelens' Henry James and the "Aliens": In Possession of The American Scene (2002), which offers a nuanced analysis of Henry James's engagement with cultural otherness, particularly in his later works such as The American Scene. While previous scholarship has highlighted James’s openness to diverse cultures, Buelens critiques these approaches for failing to account fully for the complexities of James’s relationship with "the alien." By focusing on close readings of *The American Scene*, relevant passages from *Autobiography*, and selected prefaces, Buelens explores how James navigates the tensions between nativism and multiculturalism. The study argues that James's portrayal of ethnic others is neither uniformly positive nor negative but rather reflects a dynamic interplay between curiosity and critique. Buelens contends that this approach reveals both the continuities and ruptures in James’s understanding of American identity, offering a more balanced interpretation of his stance on cultural difference. This work contributes to ongoing debates about James's role as a social critic and his engagement with the evolving American scene.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)