The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady is the most stunning achievement of Henry James's early period--in the 1860s and '70s when he was transforming himself from a talented young American into a resident of Europe, a citizen of the world, and one of the greatest novelists of modern times. A kind of delight at the success of this transformation informs every page of this masterpiece. Isabel Archer, a beautiful, intelligent, and headstrong American girl newly endowed with wealth and embarked in Europe on a treacherous journey to self-knowledge, is delineated with a magnificence that is at once casual and tense with force and insight. The characters with whom she is entangled--the good man and the evil one, between whom she wavers, and the mysterious witchlike woman with whom she must do battle--are each rendered with a virtuosity that suggests dazzling imaginative powers. And the scene painting--in England and Italy--provides a continuous visual pleasure while always remaining crucial to the larger drama.

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The Portrait

Ive just finished reading the book and I have to say that it is probably not one ofe my favourite, probably because of all of the describtions and so on...however, it is not one of the worst books I know and there are many interesting points. Probably the most interesting is the character of Isabel herself...she is indipendant, but on the other hand she believes a lot in feelings and then teher is her naivity...but that´s how women start probably... it is impossible for a woman to be indipendant already from her teenage period... even the most indipendant women should have started somewhere... and I would say that that is what James was trying to say . the book was about the process of becoming indipendant...well, at the end Isabel leaves Goodwood and makes finally something she does not want to do...do you agree guys...?:)

Posted By Katka at Tue 4 Mar 2008, 4:54 PM in The Portrait of a Lady || 0 Replies

Hi guys,...

Can anyone can give me a short description about this characters.... I hope you guys can help me please..... My literature teacher will kill me if I don't pass it to her this friday... So please guys... I need your help... Help me about these guys below... It's a kinda long but I know you guys are very helpful... So, please... I'll do the rest... My teacher allow me to read the book for 2 weeks, I know it's enough but guys, I'm teenager, I read a lot of books but I'm not interested with non-fiction storises... I like the thriller books. So guys please help me about these guys below...... Isabel Archer Caspar Goodwood Ralph Touchett( I like him...) Gilbert Osmond Madame Merle L. Warburton Daniel Touchett Mrs. Lydia Touchett Mrs. Reyes Mother Catherine Lady Pensil H. Stackpole Countess Genesis Ned Rosier Pansy Mr. Banting Mr. & Mrs. Luce Mrs. Molyneun Sir. Matthew Hope I hope you guys understand what I'm begging you... If you have any comment just send e-mail to me catsniper@yahoo.com... Guys I thank you so much.... For having here.... I hope you'll help me about this one..... THANKS A LOT!!!:yawnb: :yawnb:

Posted By catsniper at Mon 8 Jan 2007, 8:51 AM in The Portrait of a Lady || 0 Replies

The Portrait of a Lady (Part2)

What do you think about these three charactors : Lord Warbourton,Gilbert Osmond and Mr.Caspar Goodwood in the Portrait of a Lady by Henry James ?

Posted By Sasipak at Fri 22 Dec 2006, 8:22 AM in The Portrait of a Lady || 3 Replies

the portrait of a lady

hy guys! Would you kindly post me a detailed summery of "the portrait of a lady by Henry James"? Please!I actually need it.. Thank you so much to everyone who'll help me !:)

Posted By giuli91 at Tue 5 Sep 2006, 8:50 AM in The Portrait of a Lady || 4 Replies

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Is Henrietta Stackpole the journalist actually Henry James the novelist? Both are American writers who come to live in Britain. She says that she is not a landscape artist, that she needs a human interest. From James` laboured architectural descriptions the same could be said of him.

Posted By steve at Tue 24 May 2005, 6:07 PM in The Portrait of a Lady || 0 Replies

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I just finished reading this book and I think it is one of the best books I have ever read.
Several people have commented that there were too many characters. I don't think there were too many characters for a book of that length, and each one was so distinct that it is no trouble to keep them straight.
Isabel, the main character, was a bit frustrating, because every time she had a decision to make, she made the wrong one. She meant well, but she was too conceited and independent. Probably my favorite character was Ralph. In spite of his illness and early death, he led a happy and productive life.
Neither of these characters' lives had a completely happy ending , but that makes them realistic. They were interesting, lovable, and human, and some of the best and most complete characters in literature. The book has subtle wit and psychological depth, and the vocabulary is large without being cumbersome. I recommend it if you are looking for a long and involved story that gives you a lot to think about.

Posted By Mary Springfield at Tue 24 May 2005, 6:07 PM in The Portrait of a Lady || 2 Replies

then and now

I did enjoy this book very much, but it left me with mixed feelings and overall rather non-plussed. I loved the sensuousness of the language, and became so involved that I wanted to follow Isabel back to Rome to find out what happened. These merits are not light or unworthy ones; yet one wonders how James could have borne to write this magnificent slab of plush without going crazy at the insanity of the world he was describing. It set my teeth on edge. Several times I thought that the whole lot of them could do with some serious sodomising ; then they might be better able to live in the world of real need and emotions instead of the pampered fat palaces of their own stupified invention. While they all minced about Rome and Florence mentally playing with themselves, people with real lives were starving in the gutters around them no doubt.
Bad as things are today, 'Portait of a Lady' made me glad that times have changed.
Laurie Breedon

Posted By Laurie Breedon at Tue 24 May 2005, 6:07 PM in The Portrait of a Lady || 0 Replies

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I I read this book for a book club. I was fascinated by the complete descriptions of the characters - their physical features, their class, their effect on each other.

Posted By Unregistered at Tue 24 May 2005, 6:07 PM in The Portrait of a Lady || 0 Replies

A Labored Read

James certainly has his way with words and treats small detail with the same extravagance as poignant moments. If a reader has the energy to plow through such literary logical prose as:

"Little, however, for the present, had come of his offers, and it may be confided to the reader that if the young man delayed to carry them out it
was because he found the labour of providing for his companion
by no means so severe as to require extraneous help."

Then the reader will be duly rewarded.

I found his characters too numerous and confusing in character to generate vivid and clear pictures and James' copious exposition (rather than showing the character) in rather labored constructs of sentences soon becomes too overwhelming to retain. His may be the 19th century way of literary expression and the reader is rewarded by his own labors to grind through the prose, yet, for sure, writers can learn a lot from James - his word choices are very precise.

Scarlet O'hara was far more interesting, and far better shown than James' Isabel, IMO.

lee

Posted By Laura at Wed 16 Apr 2003, 1:00 AM in The Portrait of a Lady || 5 Replies

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I found this book to be very well written. The book was long, but relaxing. The book gave excellent descripitves of the charcter. Overall Henry James was one of the most underrated authors of the 19 century.

Posted By Britney Hardy at Tue 24 May 2005, 6:07 PM in The Portrait of a Lady || 0 Replies

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