have been willing to overlook the very slow pace of the novel and the extreme density of its prose. The negative case also quibbles with James' sometimes stilted, unnatural dialogue, and his unsubtle harping on Rosanna's overweight physique and tobacco addiction. No definite verdict can be reached on a novel left mostly incomplete. An interesting footnote is the large advance that Scribner's paid to James for the novel. He was a little suspicious of the money, with good reason. His friend Edith Wharton had secretly provided the cash. References The Novels of Henry James by Edward Wagenknecht (New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1983) The Novels of Henry James by Oscar Cargill (New York: Macmillan Co., 1961) External links Text of The Ivory Tower with the author's notes (1917) 1917 American novels Novels published posthumously Novels by Henry James Unfinished novels Novels set in Rhode Island