Portrait of a Lady, Volume 1

Portrait of a Lady, Volume 1

by Henry James

The Portrait of a Lady is a novel by Henry James, first published as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan's Magazine in 1880-1881 and then as a book in 1881. It is the story of a spirited young American woman, Isabel Archer, who "affronts her destiny" and finds it overwhelming. She inherits a large amount of money and subsequently becomes the victim of Machiavellian scheming by two American expatriates. Like many of James's novels, it is set mostly in Europe, notably England and Italy. Generally regarded as the masterpiece of his early phase of writing, this novel reflects James's absorbing interest in the differences between the New World and the Old. It also treats in a profound way the themes of personal freedom, responsibility, betrayal, and sexuality. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Author

Henry James image

Henry James

America, Britain

Henry James was born in New York City on April 15, 1843, into a wealthy and intellectually stimulating family. His father, Henry James Sr., was a Swedenborgian philosopher and his mother, Mary Roberts...

More on Henry James

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Small Souls Cover image

Small Souls by Louis Couperus

It follows the lives of two cousins, Addy and Constance, as they navigate their way through life in The Hague, Netherlands. Set against the backdrop...

Psmith, Journalist Cover image

Psmith, Journalist by P. G. Wodehouse

Psmith takes over editing a paper while the usual editor is away on vacation. He takes on a local slum lord, and divers alarums ensue. (description by...

Maggie Miller Cover image

Maggie Miller by Mary Jane Holmes

The story follows the life of a young woman named Maggie Miller who, after the death of her parents, is taken in by her wealthy aunt and uncle. Maggie...

An Outback Marriage Cover image

An Outback Marriage by Andrew Barton Paterson

Imagine being forced to marry a stranger in the middle of the Australian outback, surrounded by nothing but red dust and wild animals. An Outback Mar...

The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles Cover image

The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles by Henry Augustus Hering

'He's one of us,' the burglar explained. 'You see, we are men who have pretty well exhausted the pleasures of life. We've all been in the Army or the...

If Winter Comes Cover image

If Winter Comes by A.S.M. Hutchinson

If Winter Comes, was in many aspects ahead of its time, dealing with an unhappy marriage, eventual divorce, and an unwed mother who commits suicide. A...

The Way of an Eagle Cover image

The Way of an Eagle by Ethel M. Dell

Muriel Roscoe has come to India to live with her father, a general. When the fort where they are staying comes under attack, General Roscoe charges th...

The Garies and their Friends Cover image

The Garies and their Friends by Frank Webb

The book which now appears before the public may be of interest in relation to a question which the late agitation of the subject of slavery has raise...

Brain Three Men and a Maid Cover image

Brain Three Men and a Maid by P. G. Wodehouse

This book with two titles, Three Men and a Maid in the USA and The Girl on the Boat in the UK is a typical P.G. Wodehouse romantic comedy, involving,...

The Ice Palace  Cover image

The Ice Palace by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The story is about Sally Carrol Happer, a young southern woman from the fictional city of Tarleton, Georgia, who becomes engaged one summer to Harry B...

Reviews for Portrait of a Lady, Volume 1

No reviews posted or approved, yet...