Despite the desires of Miss Birdseye, he becomes attracted to another character after listening to her speak, even though he is strongly opposed to the actual contents of Verena Tarrant's speech.
One of the title characters of this work is described as someone who has "belonged to any and every league that had been founded for almost any purpose whatsoever." This character, supposedly inspired by Elizabeth Peabody, suspects her doctor of "dissecting", although she still introduces Dr. Mary Prance to the male protagonist. Despite the desires of Miss Birdseye, he becomes attracted to another character after listening to her speak, even though he is strongly opposed to the actual contents of Verena Tarrant's speech. Despite the efforts of Verena's mentor, also his cousin, to win her allegiance to their movement and get her to renounce marriage, the novel ends with Verena's elopement with him. What is, for 10 points, this novel in which Basil Ransom wins his struggle with Olive Chancellor among the titular people, a book by Henry James?
One of the title characters of this work is described as someone who has "belonged to any and every league that had been founded for almost any purpose whatsoever.
The {Bostonians}