Why did Henry James try writing plays during the 1890s?

During the years 1890–1895, Henry James attempted to write for the stage because he sought to achieve professional success as a playwright. This period, which he referred to as his "dramatic years," followed his exploration of the conflict between art and the world in his novel The Tragic Muse.1

While he achieved a modest success with his 1891 dramatization of The American, his career in theater effectively ended after his original play Guy Domville was met with failure and public booing in 1895. Following this experience, James returned to writing fiction, though he significantly altered his storytelling methods by incorporating techniques he had developed during his time in the theater, such as the use of dramatic scenes and a restricted angle of vision.1