The Bostonians vs The Wings of the Dove: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Triangles, Young women, Women, Social life and customs, Historical Fiction, Classic Literature
The Bostonians
First published in 1886, The Bostonians is one of James' wittiest social satires. It begins with the arrival in Boston of Basil Ransom, in search of a career. The book turns on the relationship between Ransom, a…
1 film adaptation
vs
The Wings of the Dove
“SHE waited, Kate Croy, for her father to come in, but he kept her unconscionably, and there were moments at which she showed herself, in the glass over the mantel, a face positively pale with the irritation that had brought her to the point of going away without sight of him.”
Beautiful Kate Croy may have been left penniless by her relatives, but her bold, ambitious nature ensures she will not succumb meekly to a life of poverty. If the financial circumstances of Merton Densher, the man she…
1 film adaptation
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Wings of the Dove is the quickest read — about 8 hours vs 12 for The Bostonians.
- The Wings of the Dove has the widest readership — 17746 ratings behind its score.
- The Bostonians reaches further in scholarship and criticism — cited 11 times.
How to choose
Scores by source
| The Bostonians | The Wings of the Dove | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.6 (8208) | 3.8 (17746) |
| Hardcover | 3.2 (10) | 3.2 (8) |
| Apple Books | 3.5 (6) | 3.5 (6) |
Reception
| The Bostonians | The Wings of the Dove | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 8208 | 17746 |
| Editions | 130 | 60 |
| Citations | 11 | 4 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 14036 | 31731 |
| Reading it now | 813 | 802 |
| Written reviews | 728 | 893 |
| Wikipedia attention | 2492 | 3111 |
| Pages | 696 | 457 |