The Chariot of Fire: a literary motor car on World Book Day

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With World Book Day in mind (yes, it’s today), we thought of this photo of an early motor car that features in Henry James’s 1909 short story ‘The Velvet Glove’ – a satirical tale about the clash between fine art and commercial popularity, famously considered an ‘in-joke’ between James and his friend and fellow novelist Edith Wharton.

The story follows John Berridge, a successful author who considers himself to belong to the elite of literature and who attends a glamorous party at a studio in Paris. At the party, he is introduced to a stunning socialite known only as ‘the Princess’. Berridge is captivated by her but finds that she has written a trashy novel under a pseudonym and wants him to write a preface for it to help sales. The car is a central element of the story’s climax, serving as a private space during a night drive in Paris where she attempts to seduce him into endorsing her book.

The fun thing is that the character of the Princess was famously inspired by Edith Wharton, who did indeed once ask James to write a preface for her popular writings to help them reach a wider audience. James, who valued high art over commercial popularity, found the request vulgar yet amusing. But what is more: Wharton was a keen motorist with a love for modern technology. The Parisian drive in The Velvet Glove was inspired by an actual 1907 tour through France that saw James hop on board Wharton’s car. He was fascinated by what he described as the ‘high-speed world of Wharton’s automobile’. He nicknamed the car ‘Chariot of Fire’ and also described it as a ‘mobile chamber’ and a ‘deep-cushioned force of nature’.

It was a Panhard & Levassor 15hp, which had been fitted with a closed body and electric lights specifically for touring in France. Unfortunately, this car does not appear to survive. Wharton is believed to have left it behind in France after her tour in 1907. It may turn up one day, you never know.

Words: Jeroen Booij; Picture: The Berkshire Eagle

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