Henry Strauss Character Analysis in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Henry is in his late 20s and working at a bookshop when he meets Addie—and becomes the first person in 300 years to remember her. Having recently dropped out of graduate school, Henry feels aimless and insecure. He’s terrified about wasting his life not knowing what he wants to do or who he wants to be—an anxiety that gains deeper significance once the reader learns that Henry’s deal with Luc means his death is imminent. Henry suffers from “gray” periods of intense sadness that perplex his family. Henry feels especially miserable and unwanted since his girlfriend Tabitha recently rejected Henry’s marriage proposal. After their breakup, Luc interferes with Henry’s suicide attempt and convinces Henry to make a deal with him instead: for one year, Henry will be loved and desired by all. After that, Henry will give Luc his soul and die. At first, Henry loves being loved and wanted. But he soon realizes that everyone’s love is artificial and meaningless—people only love him because Luc’s power forces them to. Soon, Henry realizes that his deal is really a curse. Everything changes when Henry meets and falls in love with Addie, whose own curse allows her to see Henry objectively. They eventually learn of the other’s deal with Luc, though Henry initially doesn’t tell Addie about his looming death. Eventually, Luc reveals that he purposefully arranged for Addie to fall in love with—and eventually grieve—Henry to teach her that mortal love isn’t worth all the pain and heartbreak it causes. Addie secretly agrees to be Luc’s lover for eternity in order to spare Henry’s life. Losing Addie devastates Henry, but he fulfills his promise to remember her, ultimately immortalizing her story in his first novel, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Henry Strauss Quotes in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue quotes below are all either spoken by Henry Strauss or refer to Henry Strauss. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

His heart has a draft.

It lets in light.

It lets in storms.

It lets in everything.

Related Characters: Adeline “Addie” LaRue, Henry Strauss, Tabitha Masters

Page Number and Citation: 225

Explanation and Analysis:

That’s the only unsettling part, really—their eyes. The fog that winds through them, thickening to frost, to ice. A constant reminder that this new life isn’t exactly normal, isn’t entirely real.

Related Characters: Tabitha Masters , Henry Strauss, Luc/The Darkness/The Stranger

Page Number and Citation: 256

Explanation and Analysis:

“Three hundred years,” she whispers. “And you can still find something new.” When they step out the other side, blinking in the afternoon light, she is already pulling him on, out of the Sky and on to the next archway, the next set of doors, eager to discover whatever waits beyond.

Related Characters: Adeline “Addie” LaRue (speaker), Luc/The Darkness/The Stranger, Henry Strauss

Related Symbols: Art

Page Number and Citation: 268

Explanation and Analysis:

“You can’t make people love you, Hen. If it’s not a choice, it isn’t real.”

Related Characters: Bea (speaker), Luc/The Darkness/The Stranger, Henry Strauss

Page Number and Citation: 290

Explanation and Analysis:

“What is real to you, Adeline? Since my love counts for nothing?”

“You are not capable of love.”

He scowls, his eyes flashing emerald. “Because I am not human? Because I do not wither and die?”

“No,” she says, drawing back her hand. “You are not capable of love because you cannot understand what it is to care for someone else more than yourself. If you loved me, you would have let me go by now.”

Luc flicks his fingers. “What nonsense,” he says. “It is because I love you that I won’t. Love is hungry. Love is selfish.”

“You are thinking of possession.” He shrugs. “Are they so different? I have seen what humans do to things they love.”

Related Characters: Luc/The Darkness/The Stranger (speaker), Adeline “Addie” LaRue (speaker), Henry Strauss

Page Number and Citation: 402

Explanation and Analysis:

Addie shakes her head. “You see only flaws and faults, weaknesses to be exploited. But humans are messy, Luc. That is the wonder of them. They live and love and make mistakes, and they feel so much.

Related Characters: Adeline “Addie” LaRue (speaker), Henry Strauss, Luc/The Darkness/The Stranger

Page Number and Citation: 408

Explanation and Analysis:

“Nothing is all good or all bad,” she says. “Life is so much messier than that.”

And there in the dark, he asks if it was really worth it.

Were the instants of joy worth the stretches of sorrow?

Were the moments of beauty worth the years of pain?

And she turns her head, and looks at him, and says, “Always.”

Related Characters: Adeline “Addie” LaRue (speaker), Henry Strauss, Luc/The Darkness/The Stranger

Page Number and Citation: 418

Explanation and Analysis:

Henry Strauss Character Timeline in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The timeline below shows where the character Henry Strauss appears in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...note how the cat, Book, doesn’t usually interact with people. Addie turns and sees a boy who, for a moment, she thinks is the stranger. But this boy’s black curls are... (full context)

Addie takes advantage of the boy’s distraction to slip the book underneath her arm and exit the shop. But just as... (full context)

New York City. March 12, 2014. Henry Strauss returns to the bookstore. Emily (Henry thinks her name is Emily) asks Henry if... (full context)

The Last Word closes at 6:00. Henry doesn’t own the bookstore, but he might as well: Meredith, its owner, is always travelling.... (full context)

Henry and Bea close the shop and head to Robbie’s off-off-Broadway show, which is a loose... (full context)

Bea and Henry find their seats. There’s an empty spot where Tabitha would have sat, which depresses Henry.... (full context)

Robbie meets Bea and Henry in the lobby after the show. Henry tells Robbie he was great, and he means... (full context)

It’s almost midnight, and Henry and the others are in a dimly lit apartment in SoHo for the after-party. The... (full context)

Henry is about to leave when the actress who painted his face in the lobby approaches... (full context)

New York City. March 13, 2014. Henry’s head is still pounding from last night’s party as he rushes to meet his sister,... (full context)

...has been fully absorbed within New York’s art scene since her first semester at Tisch. Henry loves Muriel, but she’s a lot. Muriel greets Henry enthusiastically. “You look great,” she says,... (full context)

New York City. March 13, 2014. The bookshop is busy today. Addie approaches the boy from yesterday (Henry), hands him the stolen copy of The Odyssey, and tries to exchange... (full context)

Henry notices that Addie hasn’t left and demands to know what she’s doing. Addie pleads with... (full context)

New York City. March 13, 2014. Addie waits for an hour until Henry closes the shop, then she and Henry leave to get coffee. Henry lets Addie lead... (full context)

Henry returns to the table and asks Addie about the book. Had she really thought he... (full context)

Art, Creativity, and Expression Theme Icon

They talk some more, and then Henry observes that Addie’s “freckles look like stars.” Addie says that everyone notices this about her.... (full context)

New York City. March 13, 2014. Henry leads Addie to a loud, crowded bar in Brooklyn. They share happy-hour fries and beers.... (full context)

Addie and Henry stay out all night, neither wanting to say goodbye. Eventually, they reach Henry’s subway stop... (full context)

Alone, Addie feels hopeful for the first time in years. How has Henry managed to get around the curse? But she realizes that she doesn’t care. Tonight, “the... (full context)

New York City. March 13, 2014. Henry walks home after leaving Addie. He says her name over and over again inside his... (full context)

...time. But the hours between Thursday and 5:00 on Saturday, when she will next see Henry, seem to drag on and on. As she waits, she realizes how nervous she is.... (full context)

Addie finally arrives at The Last Word. Henry smiles when he sees Addie and introduces her to Bea. Bea says “déjà vu,” remarking... (full context)

Addie asks Henry where they’re going. Henry says it’s a surprise. They take the train to what looks... (full context)

Addie and Henry have fun playing pinball. Addie makes a high score, and Henry enters her name (albeit... (full context)

After the speakeasy, Henry says it’s Addie’s turn to choose what’s next. Addie takes Henry to The Nitehawk, one... (full context)

Addie follows Henry outside, and a fight ensues. Henry is angry that Addie has taken him to a... (full context)

New York City. March 15, 2014. Addie leads Henry to a steel door covered in old posters. “Jupiter,” she says to a seemingly loitering... (full context)

Addie orders vodkas for Henry and herself. They drink and move to the music. Addie watches Henry. At first, he... (full context)

Henry and Addie return to the surface, and the crisp March air refreshes them. Addie hears... (full context)

Addie and Henry take a train back to his apartment and have sex. With Luc, she was always... (full context)

March 16, 2014. Addie wakes up at Henry’s apartment and finds him cooking breakfast in the kitchen. This morning is different than all... (full context)

Henry finishes cooking, and he and Addie eat breakfast together. Addie wolfs down her food; she’s... (full context)

After Henry leaves, Addie investigates the apartment, examining all the small things she missed last night. There... (full context)

Addie turns her attention to Henry’s laptop on the coffee table. She puts her thumb on the trackpad, but nothing happens.... (full context)

Addie and Henry are at the food truck festival. Addie watches Henry order falafel from a middle-aged woman... (full context)

Henry’s phone rings; it’s Bea. Henry hangs up and explains that Bea is having a dinner... (full context)

On the way there, Henry gives Addie the lowdown about the guests. Robbie is nice but “difficult.” Henry also explains... (full context)

Addie and Henry arrive at the party. Bea greets them at the door. Then she turns to Addie... (full context)

...be having a bad time. Josh tries to flirt with Robbie, but Robbie fixates on Henry and ignores all Josh’s advances. Then Elise, Bea’s girlfriend, leaves to use the bathroom. Addie... (full context)

Addie says she should go. Bea and Henry plead with her to stay, thinking Addie is just upset about Robbie. Addie leaves anyway;... (full context)

Henry follows Addie downstairs and asks why she left in such a hurry. Referring to Robbie,... (full context)

New York City. March 17, 2014. Henry is supposed to work the next morning, but he lies and says The Last Word... (full context)

Henry angrily reminds Robbie that he met Addie last night. Addie pleads with Henry to drop... (full context)

...Addie has tried and failed to tell her story so many times. Finally, someone listens. Henry asks Addie if she made “a deal.” Addie assumes that Henry doesn’t believe her, but... (full context)

New York City. September 4, 2013. Henry is born with a bad heart. Doctors fix it and send him home, but he... (full context)

Tabitha Masters is dancing when Henry first sees her. Henry went to see Robbie perform, but his eyes are drawn to... (full context)

After the breakup, Henry goes to a nearby liquor store and buys a bottle of vodka. His phone buzzes... (full context)

Henry sits alone on a step outside. He’s too drunk. He fishes around in his pocket... (full context)

A strange man (Luc) sits down beside Henry and says, “Bad night.” The man is dressed in a swanky suit and trench coat.... (full context)

New York City. March 17, 2014. Henry finishes his story. At first, Addie says nothing. Then she cries tears of happiness. She... (full context)

New York City. March 18, 2014. Henry watches Addie restocking shelves at the store. She touches each book so carefully, as though... (full context)

Between customers, Addie asks Henry about his photography; she tells him he’s very good. Henry explains that to him, photography... (full context)

New York City. September 5, 2013. Henry wakes up to the sound of morning traffic. His head is throbbing. He tries to... (full context)

Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door; it’s Muriel. Henry asks what Muriel is doing here, and she scoffs; does family need a reason to... (full context)

His head still throbbing, Henry heads to Roast, a coffeeshop near his apartment. Vanessa, a beautiful blonde barista, is working... (full context)

Henry heads to The Last Word to open the shop. An older woman enters the store... (full context)

The rest of Henry’s day is just as strange. It feels like April Fool’s Day to Henry. Then Robbie... (full context)

Then Henry’s friends bring up Henry’s breakup. Robbie leaves to fetch the secret whisky that Meredith keeps... (full context)

New York City. March 18, 2014. Bea enters The Last Word. She tells Henry that Robbie wants to know why Henry is avoiding him. Henry feels bad, but he... (full context)

New York City. September 5, 2013. Henry returns to his apartment after drinking with Bea and Robbie. He takes a beer from... (full context)

A man interrupts Henry’s musings to offer Henry a white powder. Henry was 12 the first time he got... (full context)

A girl named Lucia and a boy named Benji approach Henry. Henry notices that both have an intense longing in their eyes.... (full context)

New York City. September 7, 2013. Henry waits in line at the Roast and thinks about how much he loves feeling wanted.... (full context)

Henry reaches the register. Vanessa is there. She smiles shyly and asks Henry why he never... (full context)

Henry returns to The Last Word and Bea scolds him for being late. Henry apologizes. Then... (full context)

Bea tells Henry about a new idea she has for a thesis. She shows him three portraits, each... (full context)

New York City. March 18, 2014. Henry forgot all about Bea’s latest thesis proposal. But now, having met Addie, it all makes... (full context)

New York City. September 13, 2013. Henry loves his family, but he doesn’t relate to them, and he doesn’t like who he... (full context)

Henry is surprised when Henry’s father greets him with a smile, his eyes “threaded with fog.”... (full context)

Henry finds Muriel smoking a joint on the porch swing out back. They share the joint... (full context)

New York City. March 18, 2014. Henry and Addie are at the Artifact now. It’s built in a park that runs along... (full context)

...black chamber filled with stars; it’s meant to resemble the Milky Way. It’s dark, but Henry can make out Addie’s wide smile. She’s overjoyed that she can still discover new things—even... (full context)

New York City. September 19, 2013. Henry meets Vanessa at a small taqueria. For once, Henry doesn’t overthink everything he says. He... (full context)

Later, Henry wakes to Vanessa running her hand down his back. Vanessa says they need to talk.... (full context)

After his shower, Henry walks into the kitchen and finds Vanessa burning a box of Tabitha’s old things in... (full context)

New York City. October 23, 2013. Henry, Bea, and Robbie settle down on Henry’s sofa for movie night. Henry groans when Robbie... (full context)

Once in the kitchen, Robbie kisses Henry on the lips. Henry starts to return the kiss. This, Henry thinks, feels better than... (full context)

New York City. November 14, 2013. Henry is grateful that Brooklyn has so many coffee shops; he hasn’t been able to return... (full context)

New York City. March 18, 2014. Addie and Henry are still at the Artifact. They trade one of their colorful wristbands for entry into... (full context)

New York City. December 9, 2013. Henry feels a sense of dread as he approaches Dean Melrose’s office. The dean greets him... (full context)

Henry returns to work. By noon, he can’t take it anymore. He uncorks Meredith’s bottle of... (full context)

New York City. December 31, 2013. Henry is at a New Year’s Eve party at Robbie’s place. Henry holds a beer with... (full context)

Henry leaves the man and wanders into Robbie’s room. He opens the window and climbs out... (full context)

Henry asks Bea what she’d ask for if she could have anything. “What’s the cost?” Bea... (full context)

New York City. Winter 2014. Henry now sees his situation as a “curse” rather than a “deal.” He resigns himself to... (full context)

New York City. March 18, 2014. Henry and Addie have one more exhibit to see. This one is set up in a... (full context)

...the first time in years, she draws: birds, trees, gardens, a workshop. Finally, she guides Henry’s hand along the glass and spells out her name in cursive: Addie LaRue. Henry can... (full context)

...a cup of tea, and watches the sun rise. She returns to the bedroom, where Henry is sleeping peacefully. She picks up Henry’s watch, which is resting on his bedside table,... (full context)

Addie dresses in yesterday’s outfit. Then she stumbles upon the notebook Henry was writing in last night, which has ended up on the floor. She expects it... (full context)

...York City. March 23, 2014. Addie sits in a corner of The Last Word as Henry works. Now that Henry has told her about his deal, Addie sees evidence of it... (full context)

Henry leads her to Grand Central. Addie is confused, at first—she, along with most people, has... (full context)

New York City. April 6, 2014. Henry and Addie are sharing fries at a pub now. They finish their food just as... (full context)

Addie ducks out of the pub. Before long, Henry is beside her. Addie asks if she ruined everything. Henry says it’s okay—they just had... (full context)

New York City. April 25, 2014. Addie and Henry are sitting in the grass in Prospect Park listening to a charity concert. As a... (full context)

New York City. May 15, 2014. Addie decides to bring Book back to Henry’s apartment. Book is immediately at home. That evening, Henry snaps a polaroid photo of Addie... (full context)

New York City. July 13, 2014. It’s Henry’s birthday. Addie and Henry join Bea and Robbie at a music venue called the Knitting... (full context)

Henry returns to the table, and everyone toasts to Henry’s 29th birthday. Just then, a man... (full context)

Addie runs outside. Henry calls out for her to wait, but she ignores him. Addie wants to feel happy... (full context)

Henry finds Addie outside. He asks if Addie knows Toby. She admits that she knew Toby... (full context)

New York City. July 24, 2014. Addie and Henry are on the rooftop of Robbie’s building with some others to watch the fireworks. Addie... (full context)

...She wraps her arms around him and says she’s heard so much about him from Henry. Robbie steps back, skeptical. But when Addie asks about Robbie’s current work, he blushes and... (full context)

Henry and Addie return to Henry’s apartment. Henry asks Addie why she lied about her name... (full context)

...normal day—but it’s not. It’s now 300 years since she was supposed to be married. Henry tells Addie that Bea is covering for him at the store so they can spend... (full context)

Addie and Henry go to the beach and have a great time. When they pack up later, Addie’s... (full context)

New York City. July 29, 2014. Addie and Henry return to Henry’s apartment. The sun is still out, and Addie feels safe. At Henry’s... (full context)

After they dance, Henry approaches the bar and orders two beers. The bartender returns with one beer—and one glass... (full context)

Luc’s smile disappears. Does Addie really think that she and Henry have met by accident? No, Luc corrects her; they have met because Luc let them... (full context)

New York City. September 4, 2013. Henry is “sick of his broken heart” and “storm-filled brain.” He drinks to oblivion, and then... (full context)

New York City. July 29, 2014. After Henry tells Addie his story, everything clicks into place: Henry’s restlessness, his gray moods. Addie finally... (full context)

...first, there is nothing. But then Luc is there. She pleads with him to undo Henry’s deal. Luc refuses initially, but then he proposes a new deal to Addie: if Addie... (full context)

Addie returns to the Merchant, but Henry is gone. She finds him at his apartment, sitting alone and in the dark. It... (full context)

New York City. July 30, 2014. Henry follows Addie around the apartment. How could she agree to meet with Luc? Addie tells... (full context)

...shirt. He and Addie leave together. At first, Addie thinks she should have listened to Henry and just let this be, but it’s too late for that now. Addie follows Luc... (full context)

...mistaking love for “possession.” Luc doesn’t see the difference. Addie pleads with Luc to free Henry—for her. Luc gets angry at Addie for bringing Henry into their special evening together. He... (full context)

Then Addie turns to Luc and asks him, once more, to let Henry go. Luc tells Addie to drop it. What does Addie see in Henry, anyway? And... (full context)

Luc tells Addie to choose a patron in the bar to damn in exchange for Henry’s life. He reminds her that everything has “a cost,” and that she must pay if... (full context)

...wait to see her until she found someone else? Luc reveals that Addie didn’t meet Henry by chance—he arranged for them to meet. He explains that he gave her Henry because... (full context)

Addie returns to Brooklyn at sunrise. On her way to Henry’s apartment, she eyes a paper at a newsstand and reads the date: August 6, 2014.... (full context)

New York City. August 2014. The next days are some of Henry’s happiest. Knowing that he’ll soon be dead is oddly freeing. He knows he should be... (full context)

Late that night, lying on the blanket together, Henry asks Addie if she’d make the deal all over again. Addie says that her life... (full context)

Before long, Henry has only days to live. He says goodbye to Bea and Robbie at the Merchant.... (full context)

New York City. September 4, 2014. It begins as an ordinary day. Addie and Henry wake up in bed together. Henry feels happy—or he tells himself to feel happy, anyway.... (full context)

Later, they get dressed and go out walking. Addie tells Henry that living for 300 years is no different than living for one: you just have... (full context)

Now, the sun has set. And Henry will never see it again. Addie holds his hand. “Stay with me,” she tells him.... (full context)

It’s nearly time. Henry and Addie are on the roof—the same roof that Henry nearly jumped from one year... (full context)

Henry’s watch has stopped ticking. Addie is speaking to Henry, but he can’t hear what she’s... (full context)

New York City. September 1, 2014 (3 nights until the end). Three nights before Henry’s last night, Addie sneaks out of bed and walks to the Merchant. She sits at... (full context)

Addie turns to Luc and tells him that Henry shouldn’t die just to prove Luc’s point. Luc tries to tell Addie that Henry made... (full context)

New York City. September 4, 2013. “No,” Henry pleads as the rain beats down around him. But when Addie decides to do something,... (full context)

Henry won’t back down. How can Addie go with Luc when she doesn’t love him? Addie... (full context)

New York City. September 5, 2014. Henry wakes up. It’s sunny outside and he feels hungover. Book stares at him from the... (full context)

Brooklyn, New York. March 13, 2015. Bea finishes reading Henry’s manuscript for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and cries out in frustration: he can’t... (full context)

Henry will get an agent. And he’ll insist that only one name is on the book’s... (full context)

...she picks up the book. The title is written in a cursive script that resembles Henry’s handwriting. Besides his script, there’s no sign of Henry on the book. She opens the... (full context)

Addie remembers her time with Henry, and a tear falls from her eye. She’s gotten to say hello to so many... (full context)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Henry Strauss Character Analysis

Henry Strauss Quotes in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Part 4, Chapter 1 Quotes

Part 4, Chapter 8 Quotes

Part 4, Chapter 11 Quotes

Part 4, Chapter 17 Quotes

Part 6, Chapter 11 Quotes

Part 6, Chapter 13 Quotes

Part 6, Chapter 16 Quotes

Henry Strauss Character Timeline in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue