This second volume of The Complete Letters of Henry James, 1887-1888 contains 182 letters, of which 120 are published for the first time, written from late December 1887 to November 19, 1888. These letters continue to mark Henry James's ongoing efforts to care for his sister, develop his work, strengthen his professional status, build friendships, engage timely political and economic issues, and maximize his income. James details work on The Aspern Papers , The Reverberator , Partial Portraits , and The Tragic Muse . This volume opens with some of James's social visits, includes the death of longtime friend Lizzie Boott, and concludes with James on the Continent.