A slow moving book of repressed tension. Toibin seems to truly inhabit and humanize his chosen grand subject of Henry James, while demonstrating the same restrained respect and tact that James would exhibit himself. I think he did a remarkable job of bringing a difficult and reclusive character to life. There were certainly many moments when I felt that the poor guy was repressed to the point of absurdity, but I enjoyed the author's ability to find a way of balancing and slowly releasing tensions.