Henry James (1843 - 1916) was one of the leaders in the school of realism in fiction. He is known for his series of novels in which he portrayed the encounter of Americans with Europe. James is considered to be the master of the novel and novella. James wrote about personal relationships and the power within these relationships. James explored consciousness and perception from the point of view of a character within a tale. In the Cage tells a story of unrequited love. A young woman works in a post office in Mayfair. She sees the correspondences of the social elite. To her they are a mystery and also alluring. She reads the messages of Captain Everard and memorizes his telegraph messages. She is fascinated by his life.