The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady (1881) represents a highpoint in the literary career of Henry James, one of the most accomplished novelists in the English language. It tells the story of Isabel Archer, a beautiful and spirited American brought to Europe by a wealthy aunt. Defying social expectations, she turns down two marriage proposals in order to pursue a journey of self-discovery. Her love of liberty, however, leads her into a trap of her own devising: a union with the outwardly charming yet manipulative Gilbert Osmond.

Henry James (1843–1916) was an American-British author. His work spans two literary traditions: the realism of the Victorian age and the modernism of the early twentieth century. James wrote numerous short stories, critical essays, plays, and travel accounts as well as over twenty major novels, many of them centered on émigré Americans in Europe. His most notable works include The Portrait of a Lady, The Bostonians, Washington Square, and The Ambassadors.