Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady
The Portrait of a Lady
Author: Henry James
When Isabel Archer, a young American with looks, wit, and imagination, arrives in Europe, she sees the world as "a place of brightness," full of possibility. Rejecting suitors who offer her wealth and devotion, she follows her own path and finds it leads to a dark and constricted future. The Portrait of a Lady is the masterpiece of James's mid...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780451191304
ISBN-10: 0451191307
Publication Date: 12/1/1996
Pages: 560
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 27

3.6 stars, based on 27 ratings
Publisher: Signet
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
Read All 12 Book Reviews of "The Portrait of a Lady"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 55 more book reviews
A true classic.
reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 220 more book reviews
Henry James' best work.Made into a movie starring Nicole Kidman, John Malkovic and Barbara Hershey.
reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 44 more book reviews
Considered by many to be the classic novelist's greatest work. Includes black-and-white photos of the 1996 film starring Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich.
reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 18 more book reviews
"Capturing the grandeur of a gracious, splendid Europe of wealth and Old World sensibilities, this glorious, complex novel has become a touchstone for a great writer's entire literary achievement. From the opening pages, when the high-spirited American girl Isabel Archer arrives at the English manor Gardencourt, James' luminous, superbly crafted prose creates an atmosphere of intensity, expectation, and incomparable beauty. Isabel, who has been taken abroad by an eccentric aunt to fulfill her potential, attracts the passions of a British aristocrat and a brash America, as well as the secret adoration of her invalid cousin, Ralph Touchett. But her vulnerability and innocence lead her not to love but to a fatal entrapment in intrigue, deception, and betrayal. This brilliant interiro drama of the forming of a woman's consciousness makes [this book] a masterpiece of James' middle years." -- back cover
reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 10 more book reviews
A masterpiece.
reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 24 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book...great descriptions of the Victorian American scene in NYC.
missjenamae avatar reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on
Loved it!
reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 7 more book reviews
I guess they call it a classic for a reason. Not a feel good Jane Austin type; much darker than that. A good read, but I'm sure many reviewers could (and have) give it the justice due.
MOMSBOOKS avatar reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 64 more book reviews
I read this book while nursing an illness so did not mind the length. It thoroughly captured my interest and imagination and took me away from my own problems. It is a wonderful counterpoint to "Le Divorce" in that they both involve enterprising young ladies of their day taking off for adventures on "the continent." This lady, Isabel Archer, is far more virtuous than her contemporary counterparts, and the author is utterly fixated on these many virtues.This would be a great book for a week vacation with lots of peace and quiet and time on ones hands. I loved it.
GusNBuster avatar reviewed The Portrait of a Lady on + 51 more book reviews
Classic!


Genres: