The Portrait of a Lady is a novel by Henry James, first published as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan s Magazine in 1880-81 and then as a book in 1881. It is one of James s most popular long novels, and is regarded by critics as one of his finest. The Portrait of a Lady is the story of a spirited young American woman, Isabel Archer, who affronts her destiny and finds it overwhelming. She inherits a large amount of money and subsequently becomes the victim of Machiavellian scheming by two American expatriates. Like many of James s novels, it is set in Europe, mostly England and Italy. Generally regarded as the masterpiece of James s early period, this novel reflects James s continuing interest in the differences between the New World and the Old, often to the detriment of the former. It also treats in a profound way the themes of personal freedom, responsibility, and betrayal. Henry James, OM (Order of Merit) (1843-1916) was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He is best known for a number of novels showing Americans encountering Europe and Europeans. His method of writing from a character s point of view allowed him to explore issues related to consciousness and perception, and his style in later works has been compared to impressionist painting. His imaginative use of point of view, interior monologue and unreliable narrators brought a new depth to narrative fiction. Henry James was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916.
