The Pension Beaurepas

"The Pension Beaurepas" by Henry James is a story set in a modest Geneva boarding house through the eyes of a young American narrator, who is eager to study human behavior. The story opens as the narrator settles into the Pension Beaurepas, captivated by its landlady and the mix of boarders, including an old Frenchman, a young American and a refined newcomer. The young American observes, noting that the mundane rhythms of boarding-house life is full of interesting interactions and the odd habits of its residents. The narrator's experiences come to emphasize the social tensions between American and European values, embodied by the interesting Ruck family. The story serves as a social observation, told through the ins and outs of the interesting characters living there.