Henry James - novel - 1880-81 - pp. 70, 71    

Among James’ most popular novels, Portrait of a Lady follows wealthy heiress Isabel Archer through Europe. After receiving a large fortune upon her uncle’s death, Isabel accepts a marriage proposal from Gilbert Osborne, an American expat in Florence. Although the marriage quickly goes downhill, Isabel becomes close with Pansy, Osborne’s daughter from a previous marriage. Pansy is being courted by Lord Warburton, whose advances Isabel herself previously spurned. Isabel suspects that Warburton’s interest in Pansy is merely a false pretense to achieve proximity to her, but Osborne wants Pansy to accept the offer of marriage.

Amidst the growing tensions, Isabel learns that her cousin Ralph is dying, but her husband effectively forbids her from going to visit him. She returns to England without telling him; whether she ever goes back to Osmond remains unclear.

The novel has been described as existentialist in light of Isabel’s commitment to secular integrity and the consequences of her decisions.

Key elements: Europe, marriage