The Works of Henry James, Vol. 30 (of 36): The Portrait of a Lady; The Pupil - Couverture souple

James, Henry

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1662716060 ISBN 13 : 9781662716065

Editeur : Moon Classics, 2020

Synopsis

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 1880-81 and then as a book in 1881. It is one of James's most popular long novels and is regarded by critics as one of his finest.


The Portrait of a Lady is the story of a spirited young American woman, Isabel Archer, who, "confronting her destiny", 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 in Europe, mostly England and Italy. Generally regarded as the masterpiece of James's early period, this novel reflects James's continuing interest in the differences between the New World and the Old, often to the detriment of the former. It also treats in a profound way the themes of personal freedom, responsibility, and betrayal.


Isabel Archer, from Albany, New York, is invited by her maternal aunt, Lydia Touchett, to it Lydia's rich husband, Daniel, at his estate near London, following the death of Isabel's father. There, Isabel meets her uncle, her friendly invalid cousin Ralph Touchett, and the Touchetts' robust neighbor, Lord Warburton.


Isabel later declines Warburton's sudden proposal of marriage. She also rejects the hand of Caspar Goodwood, the charismatic son and heir of a wealthy Boston mill owner. Although Isabel is drawn to Caspar, her commitment to her independence precludes such a marriage, which she feels would demand the sacrifice of her freedom.


The elder Touchett grows ill and, at the request of his son, Ralph, leaves much of his estate to Isabel upon his death. With her large legacy, Isabel travels the Continent and meets an American expatriate, Gilbert Osmond, in Florence.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Moon Classics
• Date d'édition: 2020
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1662716060
• ISBN 13: 9781662716065
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 728
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible