Golden Bowl

by James, Henry

The Golden Bowl, Henry James’ last completed novel, is widely considered to be one of the author’s best works (along with The Ambassadors and The Wings of a Dove). In it, James continues to explore his favored themes of marriage, money, and psychological warfare. The novel, set in England, tells the story of American heiress Maggie Verver, who is engaged to Amerigo, an impoverished Italian prince. Maggie’s father, Adam, travels to London for the wedding and meets Charlotte Stant, a friend of both Maggie and the prince. In a nutshell, The Golden Bowl is about Maggie’s education on marriage, adultery, and the aftermath.

The title of the novel comes from a Biblical passage, Ecclesiastes 12:6-7: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern… then shall the dust return to the earth as it was…” The golden bowl, first seen in a London curio shop, is used emblematically throughout the novel.

The Golden Bowl is ranked 32nd on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century and 36th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels. Adaptations include the highly praised 1972 BBC six-hour-long televised version and the 2000 film directed by James Ivory, starring Uma Thurman, Nick Nolte, Kate Beckinsale, and Jeremy Northam.

First Edition Identification

Charles Scribner’s Sons first published The Golden Bowl in New York in December 1904. In a print run of 2,000 copies, the two-volume first edition is bound in brown cloth and has no additional printings listed on the copyright page. 

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Methuen published the first UK and first one-volume edition of the Golden Bowl in February 1905. This edition is bound in blue cloth with gilt titles and flourishes on the spine and front cover.

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THE GOLDEN BOWL

THE GOLDEN BOWL

by JAMES, Henry

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Used - 8vo, 478pp. Colour illustrations. A very good hardback copy in like slipcase. Illustrated by Philip Bannister
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The Folio Society, 2008. 8vo, 478pp. Colour illustrations. A very good hardback copy in like slipcase. Illustrated by Philip Bannister.
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THE GOLDEN BOWL

by James, Henry

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Used - Very Good
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1st Edition
Published
1904
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Hardcover
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NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1904. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Two volumes, smooth tan sateen cloth, gte, gilt titles to spine. Covers moderately soiled, shallow loss to head of spine Volume 1. No previous names, bookplates. SUPINO 60.1.0.
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The Golden Bowl
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The Golden Bowl

by Henry James

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Used - Very Good
Edition
First edition
Published
1905
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Cloth
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London: Methuen & Co, 1905. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 5". None. A scarce to see first U.K. edition of 'The Golden Bowl', published only a few months after the first U.S. edition. The scarce first U.K. edition of this work, first impression, this UK first edition is complete in one volume.Forty pages of publisher's adverts… Read more about this item
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The Golden Bowl (Two Volumes)

by James, Henry

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Used - Very Good-
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First American Edition
Published
1904
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Hardcover
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New York: Charles Scribner's, 1904. 412pp, 377pp. Tan boards, Top edges gilt. Gilt lettering on the spine. prev. owner ink inscription on the lower corner of the rear endpaper.Text block is very clean. Minor closed tears on the upper spines, general wear to the externals, light spots and darkening. The hinges are tight, though there is some exposure of the… Read more about this item
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The Golden Bowl (Penguin Classics)

The Golden Bowl (Penguin Classics)

by Henry James

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Used - Good
Published
1985
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140432353
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Penguin Classics, 1985. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Golden Bowl (World's Classics S.)

The Golden Bowl (World's Classics S.)

by James, Henry

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Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0192816535
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Paperback. Very Good.
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The Golden Bowl

The Golden Bowl

by James, Henry

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Used - Fine
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None
Edition
New Edition
Published
2001
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141000902
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London: Penguin, 2001. New Edition . Paperback. Fine/None. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. softcover, 591 pages, fine.
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The Golden Bowl (Penguin English Library)

The Golden Bowl (Penguin English Library)

by James, Henry

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Paperback
ISBN 10
0140432353
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Paperback. Very Good.
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The Golden Bowl

by JAMES, HENRY

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Used - VG
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1st Edition
Published
1904
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Cloth
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New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1904. 1st Edition. Cloth. VG. Small 8vo. Gilt lettered brown cloth which has been repaired at the head and heel of spine affecting "THE" in the title. Top edge gilt. Bookplate in each volume. Very solid copy otherwise.
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The Golden Bowl

The Golden Bowl

by Henry James

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Published
2001
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Paperback
ISBN 10
0141000902
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Penguin Publishing Group, 2001. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Golden Bowl

The Golden Bowl

by James, Henry

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Nelson Doubleday, 1111. Hardcover. Acceptable. No Edition Remarks. 568 pages. No dust jacket. Brown and grey paper covered boards. Binding remains firm.Pages are moderately tanned. Boards have moderate edge-wear with bumping to corners and noticeable rubbing to surfaces.Notable marks to rear board.
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The Golden Bowl

by James, Henry

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ISBN 10
0141000902
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The Golden Bowl (World's Classics S.)

The Golden Bowl (World's Classics S.)

by James, Henry

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Paperback
ISBN 10
0192816535
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The Golden Bowl (Oxford World's Classics)

The Golden Bowl (Oxford World's Classics)

by James, Henry

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Paperback
ISBN 10
0192835424
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The Golden Bowl (The World's Classics)

by James, Henry

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ISBN 10
0192816535
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Oxford University Press. Used - Good. All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
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The Golden Bowl

The Golden Bowl

by Henry James

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Used - Acceptable
Published
1999
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0192835424
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Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 1999. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Golden Bowl (Penguin Classics)

The Golden Bowl (Penguin Classics)

by Henry James

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Used - Acceptable
Published
1985
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140432353
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The Golden Bowl

by James, Henry

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ISBN 10
0141000902
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The Golden Bowl (Oxford World's Classics)

The Golden Bowl (Oxford World's Classics)

by James, Henry

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ISBN 10
0192835424
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The Golden Bowl (Wordsworth Classics)

The Golden Bowl (Wordsworth Classics)

by James, Henry

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Paperback
ISBN 10
1840224320
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