Henry James was born on April 15, 1843, in New York City. His family was wealthy and well-read. They traveled to Europe often, and Henry fell in love with European culture. As a young man, he moved to England and lived there for most of his life. James became one of the most important writers in the English language. His stories explored what happens when Americans encounter European society. His novel Daisy Miller tells of a young American woman who visits Europe and clashes with its strict social rules. In The Turn of the Screw, a governess believes she sees ghosts in an old English house. James wrote differently from most authors of his time. He focused on what his characters were thinking and feeling rather than on exciting events. His sentences were long and carefully built. Some readers found his style difficult. Others believed he captured thoughts more honestly than any writer before him. He wrote over twenty novels and more than a hundred short stories. Late in life, he became a British citizen. He once said that being both American and European gave him the ability to see both worlds clearly.