 A C Benson was a friend of Henry James , to whom Walpole wrote a fan letter late in 1908 , with Benson 's encouragement . A correspondence ensued and in February 1909 James invited Walpole to lunch at the Reform Club in London . They developed a close friendship , described by James 's biographer Leon Edel as resembling a father and son relationship in some , but not all , respects . James was greatly taken with the young Walpole , though clear @-@ eyed about the deficiencies in the artistry and craftsmanship of his protégé 's early efforts . According to Somerset Maugham , Walpole made a sexual proposition to James , who was too inhibited to respond . Nevertheless , in their correspondence the older man 's devotion was couched in extravagant terms . 
 A C Benson was a friend of Henry James , to whom Walpole wrote a fan letter late in 1908 , with Benson <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>encouragement . A correspondence ensued and in February 1909 James invited Walpole to lunch at the Reform Club in London . They<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> developed a close friendship , described by James <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>biographer Leon Edel as resembling a father and son relationship in some , but not all , respects . James was greatly taken with the young Walpole , though clear @-@ eyed about the deficiencies in the artistry and craftsmanship of his protégé <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>early efforts . According to Somerset Maugham , Walpole made a sexual proposition to James , <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a>was too inhibited to respond . Nevertheless , in their correspondence the older man <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>devotion was couched in extravagant terms . 
A C Benson was a friend of Henry James , to whom Walpole wrote a fan letter late in 1908 , w/ Benson  encouragement . A correspondence ensued and in February 1909 James invited Walpole to lunch at da Reform Club in London . They done developed a close friendship , described by James  biographer Leon Edel as resembling a father and son relationship in some , but not all , respects . James was greatly taken with tdayoung Walpole , though clear @-@ eyed about the deficiencies in thdartistry and craftsmanship of his protégé  early efforts . According to Somerset Maugham , Walpole made a sexual proposition to James , was too inhibited to respond . Nevertheless , in their correspondence the older man  devotion was couched in extravagant terms .