Eugene Pickering

One of Henry James' specialties is the longish short story that delves into philosophical questions via detailed character studies, and "e;Eugene Pickering"e; is a perfect example of this. In it, James compares and contrasts two archetypes: a bookish scholar who has remained largely sheltered for most of his life and a streetwise "e;doer"e; who is deeply engaged with the world around him. Which of these approaches represents the best way to live? As always, James entrusts the final judgment to his readers.