The Beast in the Jungle

The Beast in the Jungle is a 1903 novella by Henry James,
first published as part of the collection, The Better Sort. Almost universally
considered one of James' finest short narratives, this story treats
appropriately universal themes: loneliness, fate, love and death. The parable of
John Marcher and his peculiar destiny has spoken to many readers who have
speculated on the worth and meaning of human life.

— Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.