The Portrait of a Lady

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What to expect

Beautiful, spirited Isabel Archer, an American heiress newly arrived in Europe, is widely expected to quickly marry. But Isabel does not look to a man to furnish her with destiny; instead she desires, with grace and courage, to find it herself.

Two eligible suitors are refused in favor of her pursuit of glorious independence. But then, Isabel becomes utterly captivated by the languid charms of the cunning Gilbert Osmond. To him, she represents a superior prize to be won; through him, she faces a tragic choice.

A subtle and poignant psychological novel of love and betrayal, The Portrait of a Lady is widely considered to be James’ masterpiece.

Critics Review

“A fine story told well. Wanda McCaddon’s distinguished British accent provides a smooth narration…Her reading brings out the subtlety of this wonderful work.”

AudioFile

“Richly perceptive.”

New York Times

“How did this nineteenth-century male writer create Isabel Archer, one of the most intriguing women characters in all of literature?…Few write about the path from openhearted to slightly more seasoned than this master stylist.”

O, The Oprah Magazine

“Isabel shows us that our bad decisions do not end our story. They begin it.”

NPR

“Offers a shrewd appraisal of the American character and embodies the national myth of freedom and equality hedged with historical blindness and pride.”

Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

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