Notes of a Son and Brother

by Henry James

"Notes of a Son and Brother" by Henry James is an autobiography published in 1914. This intimate memoir chronicles James' early manhood during the Civil War years, exploring his mysterious injury that exempted him from service, his first ventures into writing fiction, and his brother William's uncertain path. Through family letters and personal recollection, James paints vivid portraits of his whimsical father and vibrant household. The work culminates in a moving tribute to his beloved cousin Minny Temple, whose premature death at twenty-five marked what James called "the end of our youth."