Ever wonder who lived behind these walls? This blue plaque marks the former residence of Henry James. The Henry James Blue plaque commemorates the celebrated writer. It stands at 34 De Vere Gardens in Kensington. The London County Council erected this plaque in 1949.
Henry James lived here from 1886 to 1902. The inscription simply reads: HENRY JAMES 1843-1916 WRITER lived here 1886-1902. James was an Anglo-American writer. He is famous for novels like The Portrait of a Lady. Other notable works include The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl. He also penned the novella The Turn of the Screw.
James moved to this Kensington flat in March 1886. Before that, he lived in a small Mayfair flat. He found the De Vere Gardens flat spacious and bright. It was on the fourth floor and felt like a photographer’s studio. James employed a live-in servant couple. He joked about becoming as bourgeois as his means allowed. He planned to have large, fat sofas.
He told his aunt that his new quarters worked beautifully. He found no flaws. However, he did complain about noisy children overhead. Despite this, Henry James enjoyed a productive period here.
During his time at De Vere Gardens, he wrote The Reverberator in 1888. He also penned The Tragic Muse in 1890. Additionally, he worked on a stage version of his novel The American. This stage version debuted in 1891. His short story The Altar of the Dead was written in 1895. It explores a man’s obsession with commemorating the dead. James was deeply affected by the loss of close friends. These friends included actress Fanny Kemble and writer Robert Louis Stevenson.
From 1896, James spent more time in Rye, Sussex. He settled there permanently two years later. He sublet the London flat. In 1902, he gave up the lease entirely. It was in Rye that he created some of his best-known works. These include The Turn of the Screw in 1898. He also wrote The Wings of the Dove in 1902. Henry James became a naturalised British citizen in 1915.
The Henry James Blue plaque serves as a reminder of his time in London. It highlights a significant period in his literary career. Next time you pass by, remember the writer who once called this place home. His words continue to resonate with readers today.