Henry James at Work

The memoirist recounts her time serving as amanuensis to a celebrated writer, portraying their first interview, impressions of his appearance and manners, and detailed descriptions of his workrooms at Rye, including a winter green room and a larger garden room. She explains his dictation method, habits of pacing, meticulous spelling and punctuation when dictating, responses to machinery like the typewriter, and how dictation shaped his prose. Interleaved personal anecdotes show daily routines, the practicalities of accommodation, and the mutual adaptation of author and assistant during composition.