PortraitofaLady

　　HenryJames

　　IsabelArcherisanAmericanyoungwomanbroughttoEuropebyheraunt,Mrs.Touchette.Shemeetsheruncle,Mr.Touchette,andcousin,Ralph,andliveswiththeTouchettefamilyintheirhomeatGardencourt.

　　AsshestayswiththeTouchettes,aneighbor,LordWarburton,fallsinlovewithherandproposes.Sheturnshimdown.HerfriendfromAmerica,HenriettaStackpole,alsocomestoEnglandandspendssometimewithIsabel.HenriettaismoreoutspokenandopinionatedthanIsabelandtriestoguideherfriendbeforesheleavesIsabelatGardencourt.RalphTouchettestandsbackandwatchesallofthemwithabitofcynicism.

　　Mrs.TouchetteisplanningtotakeIsabeltoherresidenceinEurope.FirstshemuststayinEnglandwhilefamilymattersconclude.WhileRalphandhisparentsaretiedup,anothervisitorcomestoGardencourt.MadameMerleisthemostfascinatingpersonIsabelhasevermet.Sheseemstobeherownpersonandveryaccomplished.

　　Thissynopsisbarelygetsthestorystarted.Isabelcomesintoagreatdealofmoneyandisnowindependent.ShegoestoEuropewithMrs.Touchetteandmeetsyetanothersuitor,GilbertOsmond,andhisdaughter,Pansy.LordWarburtonmeetsherinRome.AnAmericansuitorcomesovertoseeherinEurope.Isabelmakeschoicesthataffecttherestofherlife,andthenhastodealwiththeconsequences.

　　ThePortraitofaLadyisaclassic,firstpublishedinEnglandin1881andintheUnitedStatesin1901.JamestakesusthroughIsabel'slife,neverapologizingforheractions.Jamesalsoisnotknownforhappyendings.Unfortunately,healsoisknownforbeingwordy.Ifoundhimverywordy.Andboringbythemiddleofthebook.BythetimeIsabelwasisFlorenceandmeetingGilbertOsmondIwastiredofreadingthedroningparagraphs.Ilikedhischaracters'interactionsanddevelopment.Butthosewerenotenoughtokeepmeawake.ToooftenIfoundthisbooktobeagoodsleepingtool.Whilethereareotherswhoagreewithme,thisbookisstillconsideredamasterpiece.Manyastudentwillhavetostudyitinschool.ThankgoodnessforthosepeoplewithmytemperamentthereareCliffnotes.

　　Thesimplestoryhereisofabrilliant,sensitiveyoungwomanwhoisgivenafortunebyacousin'sinterventionwiththegoalofhelpingherfindherdestiny.Thestoryisbeautifullydesignedtoleadinexorablytoatragicending,affirmingatthesametimeanunbreakableadherencetomoralcodesbetweenindividuals,andonlyincidentallytheproductofchurchorstate.

　　Theplotisdevelopedsolelyupontheheroine'scharacter.Allothersaretoolsofherfulfillmentordestruction.Herloftyintellect,intheend,givesheranawarenessoftheinevitableconclusiontoherowndecisionsandtheneedtoacceptthem,andtohopefullyawaitabettersituation.Allthecharactersaredeeplydrawnandfaulted,andeventheheroinehastheselfesteemtowarnherofthetrapthathasbeensetagainsther.

　　Thereareslowspots,asinany700pagenovel,butIamgreatlylookingforwardtomybookclubdiscussionofthisnextmonth.ItwillbefollowedbyhighteaattheRitzCarlton.AmonthlaterthisdiscussionwillleadtoluncheonandamovieexcursiontoseetheperfectNicoleKidmanintheroleofIsabelArcher.Thereisagreatdealofwonderfulinformationonlinetoenhanceunderstandingandenrichpleasure.Itis,inspiteofitslength,abooktoreadatleastonceagain.Itisnotdirtiedbyfr