Eugene Pickering is a prime example of this kind of longish short tale, one of Henry James' specialties, which explores philosophical issues through in-depth character profiles. James compares and contrasts two archetypes in it: a bookish scholar who has spent the majority of his life mainly sheltered and a streetwise "doer" who is keenly aware of his surroundings. Eugene Pickering was written by Henry James in various chapters which signifies an interesting message. Same as his other novels like The Turn of the Screw, The Portrait of a Lady, Daisy Miller, The Ambassadors, and The Wings of the Dove, in this novel, Henry James has put the final fact of this novel to his audience and readers. Several years ago, before gambling was outlawed, it was in Homburg. The entire world gathered to listen to the orchestra on the terrace of the Kursaal and the esplanade below it. In the game rooms surrounding the tables, there were just as many people. The Prayer from Der Freischutz was being played by the orchestra, but Weber's beautiful melody simply made my memories even hazier.
