Henry James wrote a book titled The Outcry in 1911. It was once intended
to be a play. His final work, The Outcry, was finished just before he
passed away in 1916. The plot centers on affluent Americans purchasing
priceless works of art from Britain. The widower Lord Theign intends to
sell American millionaire Breckenridge Bender his exquisite painting
Duchess of Waterbridge by Sir Joshua Reynolds to pay off the gambling
debts of his daughter Kitty Imber. Young art critic Hugh Crimble opposes
the sale, saying that Britain's priceless works of art should remain in
the nation. Lady Grace, Theign's astute daughter, lends him
encouragement. When word of the Reynolds' impending sale reaches the
media, a patriotic uproar erupts, much to Bender's delight. Crimble,
meantime, has discovered another artwork in Theign's collection that he
believes to be a Mantovano rare. (James believed this artist to be a
fabrication; nevertheless, it was later discovered that a little-known
painter by that name actually existed.) Crimble's suspicion on the
Mantovano eventually proves to be accurate. Theign decides not to sell
the Reynolds to Bender and instead chooses to gift the Mantovano to the
National Gallery. His friend Lady Sandgate joins forces with Theign by
giving her family's Sir Thomas Lawrence artwork to the Gallery.
