Customer Reviews

The Portrait of a Lady (Classic Fiction)

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Henry James has truly outdone himself with this book. While it is no longer my favorite James' novel, I still think it among the best novels written in the English language. The character of Isabel Archer is an indelible part of literature. The story begins with an American woman, left parentless and penniless, being discovered by an expatriate Aunt. The Aunt convinces her to go England with her so that she might meet her cousin, Ralph. Isabel eagerly agrees. She is idealistic and has always wanted to see Europe. Her aunt agrees to pay for the expenditures. Once there, Isabel falls in love with their house, Gardencourt, and grows to enjoy her frail, sweet, ironic, and funny cousin. Before Isabel knows it, she has become ensnared in a one-sided love affair with a handsome English nobleman, Lord Warburton, little knowing what to do. Despite the urgings of her aunt, Isabel rejects his proposal in the desire to wait for something better. Soon, her elderly uncle dies, but not before she charms him with her intelligence and subtle beauty. Ralph insists that his father leave Isabel a substantial fortune, so that she might be able to live as she wishes. When the uncle dies, Isabel is left with 70,000 pounds, or about 200,000 dollars. From here is where the true story begins. I will not reveal more of the plot, which unwinds slowly and with assurance. James, being a master of prose, knows how to manipulate a sentence in a multitude of ways. His lilting, ironic, verbose writing style lends class and charm to Isabel's ultimately tragic tale. Some modern readers aren't able to handle James' subtle style. Unfortunately, many of us have had to fight the effects of shortened attention spans. Reading a slow-paced and brilliantly conceived tale like this will surely help cure short attention spans. Once you begin the story, it grows on you and affects you greatly. James is difficult getting used to, but he grabs you with his excellent descriptions of passionate people. Finally, the brilliance of this book lies in its tragedy. Even though many readers can predict early on where Isabel's confidence and naivete will lead her, James makes the journey bumpy and fascinating. He also slowly injects the story with dread, as we begin to sense the true malevolence of Madame Merle's and Osmond's vicious plans. Their acts are pure Machiavellian glee. Only in the final third of the book does it become clear of the true nature of the scheming M. Merle's plans. James also leaves several important plot points until near the end of the novel. All of this leads to a long, engrossing, and sad story of a young woman "affronting her destiny", as James puts it. Rarely has so romantic or so devastating a book been written. The ending is the final kicker. Unlike the happy ending we suspect, James leaves readers with open interpretations and many possible questions regarding Isabel's TRUE feelings about men. It also most vividly presents her sexual repression and fear that dominate the entire book. James knew the reserves of the time dictated that such topics not be discussed, and he cleverly uses this theme discreetly. However, he also uses it as a sort of indictment on the times, with their lack of passion and sensuality. Many readers expect a conclusion to the story, but, as with real life, stories simply go on. The ending is perhaps the most modern thing about the book. It also makes certain readers know that Isabel's life will never be one of happiness. This is an exquisitely haunting masterpiece.

The best thing about 19th century novels is that they take so long to unwind, you know that you are guaranteed a long and satisfying trip into a story. I initially bought this book after seeing the Jane Campion film, (which I actually wasn't too crazy about)but I always think it's a good idea to read the source material. After a few false starts (warning: one needs to devote all their attention to James in order to enjoy him)I finally got into this book, and couldn't put it down. From the great settings of the novel, to the variety of fascinating characters (the liberated Henrietta Stackpole, the sinister Madame Merle, the beloved Ralph Touchett, Ralph's eccentric mother, the flighty Countess Gemini, the deadly Gilbert Osmond, and of course, Isabel Archer herself... James gives characters great names as well) "Portrait" is a great novel not only of self discovery, but self deception. How many of us in this world have liked to have thought ourselevs as free to make our own chocies, and were excited by a future full of "possibility" only to allow something (or usually someone) to get in our way and make us realize just how quickly we can lose our freedom and be in a cage that we need to get out of. (Pardon my bad grammar.) Those of you looking fora Jane Austen type ending, this may not be the book for you, but I think this book is more of a spiritual cousin to Austen than we may think. It all comes down to making choices, and teh effects of those decisions. Throw off any reservations that you may have because this book was written over a century ago, it's as fresh, funny, tragic and riveting today as it was then. (And hey, buy the film soundtrack which perfectly captures the mood of the story for accompaniment..that was a plug!)

The idea of reviewing this novel came to me when reading the comments of 14 year old Camille, whose comments I consider to be extremely honest and justified. This is a difficult novel that cannot be uplifting for anyone who uses the English language - Henry James is a craftsman who with every phrase renders thoughts we struggle to grasp in our own minds, and who thus belittles our diminished, 21st century linguistic abilities.

It is ironic that a man so insightful can be so turgid at times, yet that criticism of his writing is accurate, inasmuch as he can go on and on. But, and this is a highly personal comment - I loved every single word in this book, the way they were placed, the way they sounded when read aloud, the way they made me exclaim with wonder every so often - "oh!".

Honestly. His characters are larger than life, because they carry the burden of a simple tale rendered into a novel. But they are also true - the sick old Touchett and his son Ralph; the "too-perfect" gentleman Warburton; the fiery, love-her-hate-her Henrietta; the two polished, sinister allies - Isabelle's husband and friend; and of course, Isabelle herself, "too darn conceited", yet a heroine of the first order, in whom there is something for everyone.

All the characters should remind you of people you know, though they all possess more of those same qualities you recognise - everyone is more accomplished than in real life. But, the narrative remains real by rendering everyone as partly flawed. It is in fact a novel that opposes completion (in death or marriage) or perfection - it suggests a search, thrives on the love of hope, the joy of what tomorrow brings. Which is why at the end, you feel unfulfilled, yet know that the novel had to stop at some point. It is an unfinished tale...the completion is in every turn of phrase, every character analysis

And, although James, not necessarily unintentionally, belittles us, he bears along with his flaw of linguistic self-love one more uplifting thrill - a compassion for the human spirit and a love of life. Read it again when you are older, Camille, and see how much of Isabelle there is in you.

mrovich1@hotmail.com

Henry James is one of my favorite authors and The Portrait of a Lady is one of his greatest works. In it, he creates a unique and unforgettable heroine, Isabel Archer, and then proceeds to let her make all the mistakes the young are capable of making. In fact, Isabel is so sure of herself that, at times, I found it difficult to have much sympathy for her poor choices. But one thing I never felt for Isabel Archer was indifference, all to James' credit.

The Portrait of a Lady is truly 19th Century literature at its finest, but that means it also contains elements that might be distracting for the modern reader. There are lengthy descriptions, the pace is rather slow and James never lets us forget we are reading a book. He makes liberal use of phrases such as "our heroine," and "Dear Reader." While all of this was expected in the 19th Century, some readers today might find it annoying.

Those who don't however, will find themselves entranced by a beautiful story of love and loss, unforgettable characters (there are many more besides Isabel, most notably the enigmatic Madame Merle) and gorgeous description, all rendered in James' flawless prose.

Anyone who loves classics or who wants a truly well-rounded background in literature cannot afford to pass this up.

Henry James - The Portrait of a Lady

Henry James stands between the traditional and the experimental novel , his work having brought an important contribution to the development of modern fiction . In James`opinion there are as many ways of seeing life as there are people ,for each person builts his own universe from what he sees and above all according to the manner in which he perceives reality . That is why James prefers to render a multiplicity of subjective points of view allowing the reader to enter the minds of various characters in turn ; he tries to be objective . In the novels of the first period of his literary activity James undertakes the treatement of his favourite theme ,t. s the study of the relationships between the Americans and Europeans .

The Portrait of a Lady

The central figure of the novel is Isabel Archer .The presentation of her life is achieved in three structural blocks marked by a distinct period of time between them . The first part contains Isabel`s introduction to GARDENCOURT , herassertion of independence and her romantic conception of freedom . Some of the crucial events of her life take place now : her getting acquainted with Madame Merle ; Ralph`s persuading his father to leave Isabel a fortune ; her coming into this fortune on her uncle`s death . The central block presents Isabel in Italy and her accepting GILBERT OSMOND`s proposal of marriage . The third part -taking place 4 years after the marriage - shows Isabel reduced to representing her husband , reveals her final realization that she has not been a free agent , but has been handled by others who have determined her choices. Using the international theme , Joice analyses the effects of the difference between Europe and America upon the sensibility of the heroine . Isabel is determined to be free and create her own destiny ; her rejection of her two suitors ., Caspar Goodwood and Lord Warburton ,is an assertion of her independent will . But she lacks experience , she does not know the world and is unable to judje people correctly , she is simple in a world of sophistication and conventionalism . Her aunt is the person who starts her adventure by introducing her to the world and her from her dull but safe provincial American life . The person who actually ruins Isabel`s life and hopes are Madame Merle and Gilbert Osmond . Content with the independence that Isabel`s money gives him , Osmond imposes an aesthetic pattern of life , reducing Isabel to a work of art in his collection . At the same time , by contrast are empasised the superior moral qualities of Ralph . Acquainted with both the european and american way of life , Ralph may be considered a product of both , for he has preserved the american independence of mind and imagination , also acquairing the European rafinement and sophistication . His invalid state confines Ralph to being a nere spectator of the spectacle of life ; that is why his love for Isabel changes into brotherly feelings . He oversees and interpret Isabel`s activities , but he is also an initiator for her , introducing her to the old world`s sophistication . He tries to wern her against Osmond , but she will take no advice . In the last part , where Isabel hides her unhappiness Ralph can only be a silent witness of her suffering . His death is seen by Isabel as an expression of his inability to face the dreadfulness of her situation .

When Isabel Archer, a bright and independent young American, makes her first trip to Europe in the company of her aunt, Mrs. Touchett, who lives outside of London in a 400-year-old estate, she discovers a totally different world, one which does not encourage her independent thinking or behavior and which is governed by rigid social codes. This contrast between American and European values, vividly dramatized here, is a consistent theme in James's novels, one based on his own experiences living in the US and England. In prose that is filled with rich observations about places, customs, and attitudes, James portrays Isabel's European coming-of-age, as she discovers that she must curb her intellect and independence if she is to fit into the social scheme in which she now finds herself.

Isabel Archer, one of James's most fully drawn characters, has postponed a marriage in America for a year of travel abroad, only to discover upon her precipitate and ill-considered marriage to an American living in Florence, that it is her need to be independent that makes her marriage a disaster. Gilbert Osmond, an American art collector living in Florence, marries Isabel for the fortune she has inherited from her uncle, treating her like an object d'art which he expects to remain "on the shelf." Madame Serena Merle, his long-time lover, is, like Osmond, an American whose venality and lack of scruples have been encouraged, if not developed, by the European milieu in which they live.

James packs more information into one paragraph than many writers do in an entire chapter. Distanced and formal, he presents psychologically realistic characters whose behavior is a direct outgrowth of their upbringing, with their conflicts resulting from the differences between their expectations and the reality of their changed settings. The subordinate characters, Ralph Touchett, Pansy Osmond, her suitor Edward Rosier, American journalist Henrietta Stackpole, Isabel's former suitor Caspar Stackpole, and Lord Warburton, whose love of Isabel leads him to court Pansy, are as fascinating psychologically and as much a product of their own upbringing as is Isabel.

As the setting moves from America to England, Paris, Florence, and Rome, James develops his themes, and as Isabel's life becomes more complex, her increasingly difficult and emotionally affecting choices about her life make her increasingly fascinating to the reader. James's trenchant observations about the relationship between individuals and society and about the effects of one's setting on one's behavior are enhanced by the elegance and density of his prose, making this a novel one must read slowly--and savor. Mary Whipple

One of the most over looked themes of the novel is the amount of freedom Henry James has given Isabel Archer to make her choices. She thinks it is romantic to suffer in being emotional abused by Gilbert Osmond. By allowing this to continue she has fallen into the trap of many battered wives who even when given the choice of leaving stay because it is a power battle between good and evil. By not going back she would of been giving in to Osmonds intimidation in her mind. Isabel has to be in control and can't cope with anyone who gets too near. She lacks the ability to cope wth the realities of real love and the sterile world of Osmond is a haven.

Perhaps Isabel is as sterile as Osmond as she shows very little affection to her friends or gratitude when they try to rescue her from his influences and she is prepared to sit back and allow his dominance of Pansy to take place.

Goodwood is kept hanging on and even Henrietta encourages him to not give up' just you wait', she echos as the loyal friend with hope for Isabel to change. Isabel may well leave Osmond but whether she has the emotional ability to live a happy life is very doubtful.

Henry James is not known for his swift pace in world literature; instead, along w/ his psychiatrist brother, Henry James never fails to frame the fragility of human spirit with an elegant touch, weaving the psyche into one continuous stream of thoughts. In this stunning achievement of his, James portrays a young, ingenuous American heiress, Isabel Archer, who comes to Europe looking for ways to escape commonality of her old life. Intelligent and rebellious, Isabel soon finds herself entrapped in a society where one might not soar as high even with an impressive fortune as the one she has inherited. It is her wish to avoid the common lot that leads her astray: first refusing a good nobleman, then bestowing herself on a mysterious stranger for the sake of "tasting reality". Not knowing the consequence of such a fateful entanglement, Isabel refuses advice from her earnest but sickly cousin and eccentric but wise aunt to consent to a devious dilettante, seducer who hunts her down with the appeal of a poor man in want of sympathy.

This is where James so skillfully masters the art of psychology--in one aspect the readers are drawn to share in Isabel's subtle fall into an abyss of shapeless pain, in another apsect, we as readers cannot help but denounce Isabel's pompous intelligence that leads her further away from the truth which her pride prevents her from seeing. The moral of her tragedy (which includes further entanglement with an American beau, her cousin, her step-daughter, an all-American girl-friend, and a dark motherly figure whose relationship w/ Isabel's husband remains a mystery for you to discover), is that in a process of seeking happiness through pain, through seeking out suffering to justify her wealth, Isabel loses sight of a reality that may be ruled by one thing and one thing only--fate.

About a year before deciding to read James' Portait of a Lady, I watched the movie version of the the novel. At the time, I thought the movie was sort of slow, but fairly decent. However, after reading the novel and realizing what a truly amazing work of art it was, I was completely disgusted by the novel. while the movie dragged over its two-hour time span, the novel was magnificent. I stayed up and read the entire thing in one night. With this novel, James proves that he is a master of the psychological novel. (Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl are even better!) It appalls me that some movie directors think they know better than geniuses like Henry James, and they change the scripts to sensationalize them for Hollywood. James is amazing enough on his own, he doesn't need any help!

This book made me want to scream, or cry. The characters are beautifully rendered, and some of them are dispicable people. That's what made it so unenjoyable to read for me.

The heroine, Isabel Archer, begins her adventures with much vitality and promise, yearning to see life and the world and not to settle prematurely into marriage and domesticity. Although James shows she's not perfect -- she's naive and somewhat conceited -- it's still pretty easy to fall in love with her. You look forward to seeing what great things her life will bring.

And then it all falls apart. After 200 pages of building her up, James marries her to a scoundrel and spends the next 300 pages suffocating her, one liberty at a time. Others have described this book as "uplifting" and spoken of Isabel's strength and courage; I honestly can't see what they could mean. I found it genuinely painful to see such a beautiful character destroyed. With all credit to James's writing skills, this book made me miserable. I couldn't wish it on anyone.