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The Portrait of a Lady

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The Portrait of a Lady

By: Henry James
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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About this listen

The Portrait of a Lady tells the compelling and ultimately tragic tale of a beautiful young American woman's encounter with European sophistication. Set principally in England and Italy, the story follows Isabel Archer's fortunes as a variety of admirers vie for her hand. Her choice will be crucial, and she is not wanting for advice, whether from the generous-spirited Ralph Touchett or the charming Madame Merle.

The Portrait of a Lady was an immediate success upon publication; it remains the most popular of James' longer works and is generally regarded as the masterpiece of his early period.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

Public Domain (P)2016 Naxos AudioBooks Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Italy

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Contains spoilers.
I had to read this as part of a book group and decided as I had read this twenty years ago but not since, to listen on Audible as I cycled to work and back.
It is an almost moment by moment description of a life story that reveals a very unpleasant manipulative relationship that ruins a life. I felt often it was like witnessing a horrible car accident in slow motion. For 28 hours. I also painted a room and listened to this as it is very slow, detailed, drawn out and often painful. However as much as I often dreaded the next bit, and so wished life is not as it so often is for so many, it is an excellent chronicle of manipulation for money.
Today we might watch Made in Chelsea or another desperate slow mo break up of a love story of very rich people but this novel is effectively the same thing but set in Victorian Europe and concerns the behaviour of American society abroad.

Excellent reading by Juliet Stevenson

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A wonderful book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. To listen to Juliet Stevenson was also a delight.

wonderful,

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The narrator was superb but the plot was ponderous - I wanted the cruel husband to get his come uppance

Disappointing vague ending

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Juliet Stevenson is as usual superb I believe she is unmatched when it comes to classics narration. For me this is Henry James's best novel. I'm amazed how many reviews complain about classics that they're slow, the "ending" doesn't meet their expectations. Things that I love about classics the use of language, the pace that allows you to sink inside a characters skin, feel what they feel and also that my imagination can run rampant.

Wonderful, Perfect.

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Although Juliet Stevenson reads this beautifully, I could not in honesty say it held my attention. A classic it may be, but I found it achingly slow to develop and disappointing. The plot staggered along and seemed very predictable. Suspecting the ending, I researched in the Oxford Companion and confirmed my thoughts. Didn’t finish the book I am afraid to admit. Such a pity as I am sure that from a literary point of view it’s a masterpiece.

Hard going

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