| The University of Nebraska is publishing a 140-volume set of the letters of Henry James, each volume priced at around $90. Edmund White considers the letters in the NYRB, focusing on the early education of Henry and William James. There is also a 12-volume Correspondence of William James, that I have considered investing in alongside the 17-volume set of his complete writings. Somehow I ended up with an empty bookcase in my office, and I think it would like to be filled with James. I hear the set of William's letters, however, is missing the full correspondence between himself and Carl Jung. Hopefully that will be rectified soon as they ready the publication of every drop of writing ever produced by Jung. Until then, there are online archives we can wander around, and find gems like Carl Jung describing his first encounter with James: After dinner William James appeared and I was particularly interested in the personal relation between Stanley Hall and William James, since I gathered from some remarks of President Hall that William James was not taken quite seriously on account of his interest in Mrs. Piper and her extra-sensory perceptions. Stanley Hall had prepared us that he had asked James to discuss some of his results with Mrs. Piper and to bring some of his material. So when James came (there was Stanley Hall, Professor Freud, one or two other men and myself) he said to Hall: "I've brought you some papers in which you might be interested." And he put his hand to his breastpocket and drew out a parcel which to our delight proved to be a wad of dollar bills. Considering Stanley Hall's great services for the increase and welfare of Clark University and his rather critical remarks as to James's pursuits, it looked to us a particularly happy rejoinder. James excused himself profusely. Then he produced the real papers from the other pocket. |
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