THE AMBASSADORS - Page 5 of 6 - book summaries and study materials

Summary and Analysis Book 6: Chapter II

Summary Ten days later, Strether finds himself at Chad’s home in order to speak to Jeanne de Vionnet at Chad’s request. Strether is unsure of the purpose of this talk, and he wonders what service he is actually rendering Mrs. Newsome even though he has continued writing his reports to […]

Summary and Analysis Book 6: Chapter I

Henry James

Summary Strether and Chad go to Madame de Vionnet’s apartment that afternoon. While his hostess and Chad talk, Strether’s attention is devoted to the apartment. Madame de Vionnet’s possessions are not “vulgarly numerous, but hereditary cherished charming.” The general result of all is an “air of supreme respectability, the consciousness […]

Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapter III

Henry James

Summary Maria joins Strether on the bench in the garden, and he tells her that it is Jeanne de Vionnet with whom Chad must be involved. Maria’s meeting with Chad’s friends has been “a shock” since they proved to be “persons about whom . . . she might from the […]

Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapter II

Henry James

Summary Chad leads Strether to Madame de Vionnet, and, as they approach, Strether finds her youthful air “almost disconcerting.” He is impressed by her English — “charming correct and odd” — and struck by her appearance; she is “exceedingly fair, and, though she was as markedly slim, her face had […]

Summary and Analysis Book 5: Chapter I

Henry James

Summary One week later, Strether goes with Chad to a party at the home of Gloriani, a famous sculptor, in order to meet Madame de Vionnet and her daughter, who will also be there. The home and garden impress Strether very strongly, and he feels under a formidable “assault of […]

Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapter II

Henry James

Summary Strether and Chad spend a good deal of time with one another, and Strether tells Chad about his friendship with Maria. In writing to Mrs. Newsome, Strether conveys his conviction that it is not a woman who keeps Chad from returning to Woollett, but he senses that he will […]

Summary and Analysis Book 4: Chapter I

Henry James

Summary Forgoing polite preliminaries, Strether comes straight to the point with Chad: “I’ve come . . . to make you break with everything . . . and take you straight home.” Strether is uneasy and concerned because Chad “had been made over. That was all; whatever it was it was […]

Summary and Analysis Book 3: Chapter II

Henry James

Summary Maria arrives in Paris, and Strether goes immediately to see her: “she was the blessing that had now become his need.” He tells her that he has made friends with Little Bilham and invites her to meet him. “Haven’t you been seeing what there’s to protest about?” she asks, […]

Summary and Analysis Book 3: Chapter I

Henry James

Summary That evening at dinner with Waymarsh, Strether recounts the happenings of the afternoon and his visit to Chad’s house. Strether learned that Chad had gone to Cannes a month ago and that Chad’s friend, the young man on the balcony, was “keeping the place warm” in his absence. This […]

Summary and Analysis Book 2: Chapter II

Henry James

Summary Strether, accompanied by Waymarsh, has been in Paris for two days when he calls on his banker to pick up any letters that have arrived for him. The bank reminds him of the post office at Woollett. He finds several letters, forwarded from London, but does not open them […]