Henry James was an American-born author and literary critic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He spent much of his life in Europe and became a British subject shortly before his death. He is primarily known for novels, novellas and short stories based on themes of consciousness. James contributed significantly to the criticism of fiction, particularly in his insistence that writers be allowed the greatest freedom possible in presenting their view of the world. His imaginative use of point of view, interior monologue and possibly unreliable narrators in his own novels and tales brought a new depth and interest to narrative fiction. An extraordinarily productive writer, he published substantive books of travel writing, biography, autobiography and visual arts criticism.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_James

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1536: Anne Boleyn (pictured), the second wife and queen consort of Henry VIII of England, was beheaded for adultery at the Tower of London. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn)

1643: "The Great Condé" scored a decisive victory in the Battle of Rocroi during the Thirty Years' War, marking the end of prominence for the Spanish tercios and the resurgence of French power in Europe. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_II_de_Bourbon%2C_Prince_de_Cond%C3%A9)

1649: The Rump Parliament passed an act to formally establish the Commonwealth of England. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_England)

1802: The Légion d'honneur was first instituted by Napoléon Bonaparte, First Consul of the French Republic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Honor)

1922: The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union was founded.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Pioneer_organization_of_the_Soviet_Union)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"Faith is a continuum, and we each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where we entirely miss the obvious — that is, that we are all trying to decipher life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of enlightenment." -- Dan Brown (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dan_Brown)