The Bostonians Vol I Author:Henry James Henry James wrote The Bostonains as a serial for The Century Magazine in 1885-85. This comedy/tragedy centers around three characters. Basil Ransom is a Mississippi political conservative. Verena Tarrant is a beautiful girl who is the protégé of Olive. Olive is Ransom's cousin caught up in the feminist movement. Both Olive and Ransom vie for Ver... more »ena's loyalty.« less