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.
Reviews
Review this book!
Available Copies
THE GOLDEN BOWL
by JAMES, Henry
- Condition
- Used - 8vo, 478pp. Colour illustrations. A very good hardback copy in like slipcase. Illustrated by Philip Bannister
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Camberwell, Victoria, AUS
- Item Price
-
NZ$77.22
Show Details
THE GOLDEN BOWL
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1904
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Salisbury, Connecticut, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$296.54
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by Henry James
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1905
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$953.37
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Two Volumes)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good-
- Edition
- First American Edition
- Published
- 1904
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Madison, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$550.71
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Penguin Classics)
by Henry James
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1985
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140432353
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$10.54
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (World's Classics S.)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0192816535
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$2.14
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- None
- Edition
- New Edition
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0141000902
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Carmarthenshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$8.57
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Penguin English Library)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140432353
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$2.64
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by JAMES, HENRY
- Condition
- Used - VG
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1904
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Toronto, Ontario, CAN
- Item Price
-
NZ$374.55
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by Henry James
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2001
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0141000902
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$10.15
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$11.76
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10
- 0141000902
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$7.73
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (World's Classics S.)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0192816535
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$1.71
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Oxford World's Classics)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0192835424
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$6.47
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (The World's Classics)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10
- 0192816535
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$3.12
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by Henry James
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1999
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0192835424
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$11.66
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Penguin Classics)
by Henry James
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1985
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0140432353
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$10.54
Show Details
The Golden Bowl
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0141000902
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$7.73
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Oxford World's Classics)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0192835424
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$6.47
Show Details
The Golden Bowl (Wordsworth Classics)
by James, Henry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 1840224320
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$3.11