How did William James's marriage affect his health and work?

William James’s marriage to Alice H. Gibbens in 1878 marked a significant turning point in his life, leading to a profound improvement in both his physical health and professional productivity. Prior to this, James had struggled for years with neurasthenia and periods of semi-invalidism, which had hindered his ability to practice medicine or pursue a consistent career.12

Following his marriage, his health improved dramatically, and the neurasthenia that had long plagued him practically disappeared. This newfound stability allowed him to approach his work with a level of energy and zest that had previously been absent. It appeared as though a deeper level of his being had been tapped, marking the true beginning of his career as an originative thinker.1

This period of renewed vitality directly facilitated the creation of his most significant work, The Principles of Psychology. Although originally contracted as a simple textbook, the project grew under his hand into a monumental two-volume study that established the functional point of view in psychology.1