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William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism (review)

William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism (review) 168 American Journal of Theology and Philosophy William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism. Robert D. Richard- son. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. xvi + 621 pp. $17.50 paper. (Reviewed by Leslie A. Muray, Curry College) n this biography of William James, Robert D. Richardson claims that he seeks “. . . to understand his life through his work, not the other way Iaround” (xiii). This he does not do. Rather, where Richardson does excel is in biographical narrative or in his own words, in the aim “to present James’ life [rather] than to analyze or explain it” (xiii). Richardson covers fascinating biographical territory familiar to readers of this journal. He provides an excellent narrative description of James’s relation to his father Henry James, Sr. He helpfully accounts for the latter’s influence on William as well as their intellectual differences. Richardson’s descriptions of the warm relationship between William and his brother Henry and his sister Alice provide rewarding and illuminating reading. Similarly, Richardson docu- ments the relationship to William’s less successful brothers Bob and Wilky with a combination of compassion and toughness. More significantly than other biographers of James, Richardson devotes considerable attention to James’s http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Theology & Philosophy University of Illinois Press

William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism (review)

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Publisher
University of Illinois Press
ISSN
2156-4795

Abstract

168 American Journal of Theology and Philosophy William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism. Robert D. Richard- son. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. xvi + 621 pp. $17.50 paper. (Reviewed by Leslie A. Muray, Curry College) n this biography of William James, Robert D. Richardson claims that he seeks “. . . to understand his life through his work, not the other way Iaround” (xiii). This he does not do. Rather, where Richardson does excel is in biographical narrative or in his own words, in the aim “to present James’ life [rather] than to analyze or explain it” (xiii). Richardson covers fascinating biographical territory familiar to readers of this journal. He provides an excellent narrative description of James’s relation to his father Henry James, Sr. He helpfully accounts for the latter’s influence on William as well as their intellectual differences. Richardson’s descriptions of the warm relationship between William and his brother Henry and his sister Alice provide rewarding and illuminating reading. Similarly, Richardson docu- ments the relationship to William’s less successful brothers Bob and Wilky with a combination of compassion and toughness. More significantly than other biographers of James, Richardson devotes considerable attention to James’s

Journal

American Journal of Theology & Philosophy – University of Illinois Press

Published: Jul 14, 2010

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