In The Portrait of a Lady Henry James tells the story of one of his most enchanting heroines, Isabel Archer, a young New York woman whose life is changed when she is visited by her aunt Mrs Touchett following the death of her father (her mother having died long before).

Isabel is invited to accompany her aunt back to Europe, and fascinates everyone with her beauty, intelligence and vivacity.

When she inherits money from her uncle this turns out to have unexpected and undesired consequences. With an Afterword by Sam Gilpin.