Henry James discusses the complexities of writing in his piece “The Art of Fiction.” Although the main binary in literature is between that of fiction and that of non-fiction, however James further distinguishes the category of fiction into romance and novel. While a romance exists as a form of entertainment and is driven by character development, a novel is more of an attempt to create a realistic depiction of the current social standard. James declares that fiction is not just a leisure art form, but is meant to be taken seriously, like a historical text. In this piece James criticizes the work of another author, Besant, and discredits previous hostility towards novels as a credible form of knowledge. Many of James' key points are present in his short story “Daisy Miller: A Study” which follows a young girl's journey through American society abroad. In this gripping tale James paints a vivid and real portrait of a society with black-and-white views of morality. Morality is a driving factor in the novel as it is in society, and James's views regarding the strict moral environment are evident in the novel's unexpected conclusion. James follows his formula for a “serious” novel by acting as a historian, painting a clear and vivid portrait of a specific social scene. In “The Art of Fiction” James emphasizes the rediscovery of fiction as a form of serious writing, a form of ascribed history. James states, “The subject of fiction is stored alike in documents and records, and if it will not betray itself… it must speak confidently, in the tone of the historian” (377). In other words, the credibility of a work of fiction is in the hands of the author, if he fails to take his work... middle of paper... society is presented in the novel, and Daisy's death signifies the implications that challenging these norms may have. It is a disturbing message from James and reflects on his opinion of American society. Works Cited James, Henry. "The art of fiction." Stories of Henry James: the texts of the stories, the author on his craft, his background and criticism. Ed. Christof Wegelin and Henry B. Wonham. Second ed. New York: Norton, 1984. Pages 375-94. Press. Further references are to this edition and will appear in parentheses in the text.James, Henry. "Daisy Miller: A Study." Stories of Henry James: the texts of the stories, the author on his craft, his background and criticism. Ed. Christof Wegelin and Henry B. Wonham. Second ed. New York: Norton, 1984. Pages 3-51. Press. Further references are to this edition and will appear in parentheses in the text.