Abstract: Henry James in the 1890s is the subject of biography or biographic novels such as Volume III and IV of Henry James by Leon Edel, Author, Author by David Lodge, and The Master by ColmToibin. All the three texts are based on the same historical period, aiming to present a truthful image of Henry James; however, their representations diverge quite a bit. Each biographer has his own preferences, whether on material-selection or on interpretations of the same event. All these result in different understandings of the relationship between the biographer and his subject. The unavoidable invention in the texts not only makes it difficult to touch upon the so-called Truth, but also serves to present to us the different levels and facets of the truth.

Key words: biography; truth; Henry James

Shen Chen is a graduate student in School of Humanities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.