Biblio Library

The Liar is a short story by Henry James, which first appeared in The Century Magazine in May-June 1888, and in book form 1889.

It is the story of a young successful painter’s dilemma when he reconnects with the woman he once loved during a visit to an English country house, and finds her married to a man of a vile, dishonest nature.

Concerned that her own purity has been spoilt, he tests her to see whether she is only shielding her husband out of love. 

His surprise is great when he learns that her husband is susceptible to a very peculiar habit. 

Henry James, OM (Order of Merit) (1843-1916) was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism.

He is best known for a number of novels showing Americans encountering Europe and Europeans. His method of writing from a character's point of view allowed him to explore issues related to consciousness and perception, and his style in later works has been compared to impressionist painting. His imaginative use of point of view, interior monologue and unreliable narrators brought a new depth to narrative fiction.

Henry James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916.