The Portrait of a Lady, Volumes 1-2"The Portrait of a Lady" is the most stunning achievement of Henry James's early period--in the 1860s and '70s when he was transforming himself from a talented young American into a resident of Europe, a citizen of the world, and one of the greatest novelists of modern times. A kind of delight at the success of this transformation informs every page of this masterpiece. Isabel Archer, a beautiful, intelligent, and headstrong American girl newly endowed with wealth and embarked in Europe on a treacherous journey to self-knowledge, is delineated with a magnificence that is at once casual and tense with force and insight. The characters with whom she is entangled--the good man and the evil one, between whom she wavers, and the mysterious witchlike woman with whom she must do battle--are each rendered with a virtuosity that suggests dazzling imaginative powers. And the scene painting--in England and Italy--provides a continuous visual pleasure while always remaining crucial to the larger drama. |
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afraid American amusement answered appeared aunt Bantling believe better Caspar Goodwood certainly charming companion Countess Gemini course cousin cried daughter deal dear delightful Edmund Ludlow England everything exclaimed eyes face father feel felt Florence fond Gardencourt gave Gilbert Osmond girl give glad hand happy heard Henry James hope hour husband idea interest Isabel Archer Isabel asked Italy James kind knew laugh live looked Lord Warburton Madame Merle marriage marry mean Merle's mind Miss Archer Miss Stackpole mother never niece novel one's Pansy Pansy's perfectly perhaps person poor present Ralph Touchett Roderick Hudson Rome Rosier seemed seen sense simply sister smile sort speak stood suppose sure talk tell there's things thought tion told tone took turned visitor wait wish woman wonder York Edition young lady