In its intense focus on the consciousness of his major characters, James's later work foreshadows extensive developments in 20th-century fiction.Wagenknecht (1983). Indeed, he might have influenced stream-of-consciousness writers such as Virginia Woolf, who not only read some of his novels but also wrote essays about them.Woolf (March 2003) pp. 33, 39–40, 58, 86, 215, 301, 351. Both contemporary and modern readers have found the late style difficult and unnecessary; his friend Edith Wharton, who admired him greatly, said that some passages in his work were all but incomprehensible.Edith Wharton (1925) pp. 90–91 James was harshly portrayed by H. G. Wells as a hippopotamus laboriously attempting to pick up a pea that had got into a corner of its cage.H. G. Wells, Boon (1915) p. 101. The "late James" style was ably parodied by Max Beerbohm in "The Mote in the Middle Distance".Beerbohm, Max (1922). "The Mote in the Middle Distance." In A Christmas Garland , p. 1. E.P. Dutton & Company. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
in its intense focus on the consciousness of his major characters james's later work foreshadows extensive developments in 20th-century fictionwagenknecht (1983) indeed he might have influenced stream-of-consciousness writers such as virginia woolf who not only read some of his novels but also wrote essays about themwoolf (march 2003) pp 33 39–40 58 86 215 301 351 both contemporary and modern readers have found the late style difficult and unnecessary; his friend edith wharton who admired him greatly said that some passages in his work were all but incomprehensibleedith wharton (1925) pp 90–91 james was harshly portrayed by h g wells as a hippopotamus laboriously attempting to pick up a pea that had got into a corner of its cageh g wells boon (1915) p 101 the "late james" style was ably parodied by max beerbohm in "the mote in the middle distance"beerbohm max (1922) "the mote in the middle distance" in a christmas garland  p 1 ep dutton & company retrieved 27 january 2014