One of James's forays into the supernatural, The Sense of the Past revolves around Ralph Pendrel, a young American who meets one of his ancestors and namesake from the 18th century in an otherworldly encounter. He ultimately travels back in time to trade places with his predecessor. James began work on the novel in 1900, but set it aside until 1914. It was left unfinished at his death, and posthumously published in 1917.