THE AMERICAN - Page 3 of 4 - book summaries and study materials

Summary and Analysis Chapter XV

Summary Valentin gives Newman some more information about Mademoiselle Noemie. Newman found it disgusting to find he was wrong about M. Nioche, but he determined to seek him out one more time and find out for himself. He went to M. Nioche’s address and was told that the old man […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter XIV

Henry James

Summary Newman has kept his promise and said nothing for six months to Madame de Cintre, but now the time of waiting is over. He now speaks and tells Madame de Cintre that she is everything that he desires and more. She tells him that she liked him six months […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter XIII

Henry James

Summary During the next six weeks, he went often to see Madame de Cintre. Their acquaintance deepened and Newman could see signs of her attachment to him. Once with Mrs. Tristram, he commented on Madame de Bellegarde. He wondered if after all she had not sometime “murdered someone — all […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter XII

Henry James

Summary Three days after meeting the Bellegarde family, he received an invitation to dinner from the Marquis Urbain de Bellegarde. When he arrived, he was told that no one else had been invited. Newman asked Madame de Cintre if she enjoyed her ball, and she is taken aback when Newman […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter XI

Henry James

Summary One day M. Nioche came to renew his visits with Newman. He expressed his great concern over Mademoiselle Noemie’s actions, and Newman promises to look in on her at the Louvre the next day. While wandering through the Louvre in search of Mademoiselle Noemie, Newman met Valentin who was […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter X

Henry James

Summary Newman goes to Mrs. Tristram and relates his experiences with Madame de Cintre. Mrs. Tristram thinks it “is a great triumph.” She is also surprised that Newman has gone so fast, and that he was not immediately thrown out. Later, Valentin comes to conduct Newman to the house so […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter IX

Henry James

Summary The next day, Newman goes to see Madame de Cintre. He must wait a long time before she comes in, but when she arrives, Newman is pleased to have her alone. He asks her if Valentin has spoken to her, and she says that Valentin has spoken quite well […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter VIII

Henry James

Summary When Newman took Valentin to his apartment, he asked him directly to tell him something about Madame de Cintre Valentin tells him that he cannot be objective because he admires his sister too much. He explains that she is the perfect combination of all the finest qualities of the […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter VII

Henry James

Summary About a week after his visit to Madame de Cintre, Valentin came to visit Newman. At first, Newman had the impression that Valentin came to laugh at him, but he is very tolerant anyway. Valentin, however, explains that his sister requested him to come, and a request from his […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter VI

Henry James

Summary On his return to Paris, he trusted Tom Tristram to find some suitable rooms for him, even though Mrs. Tristram warned that the place would be hideous if Tom picked it out. But when Newman saw the place which was “gilded from floor to ceiling” and draped in various […]