The Outcry (Annotated - Includes Essay and Biography)

The play was written but not performed.  It was delayed due to the death of King Edward VII and ultimately not performed until after the death of Henry James himself.  In the meantime, James decided to transform it into a novel.  It was published in 1911 and was the last completed novel to be published before James' death.

The plot of The Outcry concerned a group of wealthy Americans who were using their money to buy up British art collections.  The play had an overtone of comedy to it, despite the serious veneer.  Lord Theign, who has an impressive art gallery of old masters, has been driven into debt by the waywardness of his older daughter, Kitty Imber.  He turns to the idea of selling off some of the masterpieces to an American collector, Breckinridge Bender.