"Mr. Henry James writes fiction as if it were a painful duty"

Oscar Wilde's quote about Mr. Henry James suggests that James's writing is not done with pleasure or enthusiasm, however rather with a sense of responsibility. This indicates that James's writing is refrained from doing for pleasure, but rather out of an inner voice or responsibility. It might be analyzed as a criticism of James's writing, recommending that it does not have passion or feeling. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as a compliment, suggesting that James is a disciplined and devoted author who takes his craft seriously. Either way, it is clear that Wilde thinks that James approaches writing with a sense of seriousness and devotion.