The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background -- all to help you gain greater insight into great works you're bound to study for school or pleasure. In CliffsNotes on James' The American, you follow the arrival of a rich American in Europe in search of wife. Looking inside the realism of a novel that focuses on a class of people who can afford to enjoy the refinements of life, this study guide focuses on the life and background of the author, the novel's characters, and the following: Introduction to the novel's structure Chapter-by-chapter summaries and commentaries Critical essay on meaning through social contrast Analysis of James' use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and point of view Essay topics and review questions to help polish your knowledge ...