{"product_id":"2026200008047-secondhand-the-american","title":"The American","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good to fair. Paperback. Page Condition: Good - possible tanning. Markings: possible previous owner inscription.   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA landmark of 19th-century American literature, The American chronicles the story of Christopher Newman, a self-made and affluent American businessman who travels to Paris seeking culture, refinement, and a European wife. Henry James masterfully contrasts the open, optimistic spirit of the New World against the rigid, aristocratic codes of Old World France, crafting a tale rich with social tension and moral complexity. Newman's pursuit of the beautiful and noble Claire de Cintré draws him into a world of ancient family pride, hidden secrets, and calculated betrayal, where wealth alone cannot guarantee acceptance. Written with James's characteristic psychological depth and ironic precision, the novel presents a compelling meditation on innocence, ambition, and the cultural divide between America and Europe that remains as resonant today as when it was first published in 1877.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48956183707867,"sku":"2026200008047-SECONDHAND","price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/300edf6d-4591-424a-876e-2b8b0dfce723.png?v=1783498798","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200008047-secondhand-the-american","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}