About the book
One of the great heroines of American literature, Isabel Archer, journeys to Europe in order to, as Henry James writes in his 1908 Preface, “affront her destiny.” James began The Portrait of a Lady without a plot or subject, only the slim but provocative notion of a young woman taking control of her fate. The result is a richly imagined study of an American heiress who turns away her suitors in an effort to first establish—and then protect—her independence. But Isabel’s pursuit of spiritual freedom collapses when she meets the captivating Gilbert Osmond. “James’s formidable powers of observation, his stance as a kind of bachelor recorder of human doings in which he is not involved,” writes Hortense Calisher, “make him a first-class documentarian, joining him to that great body of storytellers who amass what formal history cannot.”
Editions of The Portrait of a Lady
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780679405627
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780394604329
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780553211276
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780099511601
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780375759192
- EBook
- ISBN 9781588362308
- EBook
- ISBN 9780553903973
Read an Excerpt
One of the great heroines of American literature, Isabel Archer, journeys to Europe in order to, as Henry James writes in his 1908 Preface, “affront her destiny.” James began The Portrait of a Lady without a plot or subject, only the slim but provocative notion of a young woman taking control of her fate. The result is a richly imagined study of an American heiress who turns away her suitors in an effort to first establish—and then protect—her independence. But Isabel’s pursuit of spiritual freedom collapses when she meets the captivating Gilbert Osmond. “James’s formidable powers of observation, his stance as a kind of bachelor recorder of human doings in which he is not involved,” writes Hortense Calisher, “make him a first-class documentarian, joining him to that great body of storytellers who amass what formal history cannot.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Portrait of a Lady about?
One of the great heroines of American literature, Isabel Archer, journeys to Europe in order to, as Henry James writes in his 1908 Preface, “affront her destiny.” James began The Portrait of a Lady without a plot or subject, only the slim but provocative notion of a young woman taking control of her fate. The result is a richly imagined study of an American heiress who turns away her suitors in an effort to first establish—and then protect—her independence. But Isabel’s pursuit of spiritual freedom collapses when she meets the captivating Gilbert Osmond. “James’s formidable powers of observation, his stance as a kind of bachelor recorder of human doings in which he is not involved,” writes Hortense Calisher, “make him a first-class documentarian, joining him to that great body of storytellers who amass what formal history cannot.”
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Portrait of a Lady?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of The Portrait of a Lady?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780679405627
Is The Portrait of a Lady part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Modern Library Classics
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Portrait of a Lady?
Henry James
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Portrait of a Lady is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780679405627) and hardcover(ISBN 9780394604329) and paperback(ISBN 9780553211276) and paperback(ISBN 9780099511601) and paperback(ISBN 9780375759192) and ebook(ISBN 9781588362308) and ebook(ISBN 9780553903973)
Where can I buy The Portrait of a Lady online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Portrait of a Lady?