William and Henry James: Selected Letters, Ignas K Skrupskelis and Elizabeth M Berkeley Eds.Introduction by John J McDermott

Informed by the breadth of the James brothers' intellectual community and their preoccupation with family, this collection of letters, which spans the years from 1861 to William's death in 1910, is at once an engaging chronicle of a fraternal relationship and a work of social history. In graceful prose (especially Henry's) and lively tone (especially William's), the two brothers return repeatedly to shared concerns over money, personal health and work. The famous James rivalry is palpable throughout: William calls his brother's prose ""priggish,"" while Henry worries that William's premature return from a European sabbatical will cast a shadow over the seemingly invincible James clan. Yet their dependence on each other for intellectual support is vivid, as is their increasing sympathy as they grow older. Henry writes to William and his family: ""I turn you over (in my spiritual pocket) collectively & in[di]vidually, & make you chink & rattle & ring."" McDermott's introduction includes extensive biographical information, though it seems to indicate a greater interest in sister Alice over either brother. Abundant editorial notes and footnotes explain gaps in the letters and provide additional context. The preservation of the original spellings, inadvertent errors and abbreviations gives the reader hints as to the frame of mind in which the letters were written. However, translations for the omnipresent Latin, German and French passages would be welcome, especially since this volume, culled from the first three volumes of The Correspondence of William James, is clearly intended to appeal to appeal to a broader audience. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Mar.)