Having travelled from her native New York to London to meet her
relatives, Isabel Archer, a young, independently minded young woman,
rejects the marriage proposals of two suitors in her determination to
stay in control of her destiny. When she suddenly comes into a large
legacy, Isabel believes that this windfall will finally ensure the
freedom that she yearns for and embarks on an exhilarating journey
through France and Italy, only to find her endeavours thwarted by the
sinister plotting of some of her acquaintances.
Considered by many to be Henry James's finest novel, The Portrait of a
Lady is a subtle examination of Victorian society and power relations,
providing a groundbreaking psychological study of its protagonist. This
volume is based on the authoritative New York Edition, and includes the
author's seminal preface.