The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James (1881)

Isabel Archer, a spirited young American woman, inherits a fortune and travels to Europe, where her independence and idealism are tested by the manipulations of the sinister Gilbert Osmond. James' masterpiece of psychological realism.

Historical Significance:
Serialized in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan's Magazine in 1880-81, The Portrait of a Lady established Henry James as the foremost American novelist of his generation. The novel's "international theme" — innocent Americans confronting the sophisticated corruption of European society — became James' signature. Isabel Archer's refusal to flee her terrible marriage, choosing moral duty over personal happiness, has been debated by readers for 140 years. T.S. Eliot called it "the most perfect of all James' novels." The 1996 Jane Campion film starred Nicole Kidman.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1881. Free to read and share.