Ora poi, incorniciata com’era dal vano dorato della porta, fece al nostro giovane l’effetto di un magnifico ritratto di signora.

E magnifico davvero è il ritratto che Henry James fa in questo romanzo.
La giovane Isabel Archer parte da una delle tante città americane, Albany, per intraprendere un viaggio in Europa a seguito della zia. Il suo desiderio più grande è quello di studiare la natura umana e conoscere il mondo. Non è la più bella delle sorelle Archer, ma è la più brillante. Entusiasta, aperta, moderna, affascinante… tanto che nessun uomo che incrocia la sua strada riesce a resisterle.
A dirla tutta, nella prima parte del romanzo sembra vivere in una bolla di felicità, e a me è risultata anche un po’ antipatica.

Tra gli uomini ammaliati c’è suo cugino Ralph. Gravemente malato sarà l’unico a non corteggiarla, ma sarà colui che più influenzerà il suo destino. Farà in modo che riceva una cospicua eredità perché non sia costretta a sottostare a prosaici calcoli economici e sia libera di scegliere cosa fare della sua vita, libera di seguire la sua immaginazione. Il “dono” di Ralph, come spiega a suo padre, non è del tutto altruistico. Egli è felice di osservare la cugina e si riserva per sé la gioia di vederla andare a vele gonfie.
E così Isabel sarà libera di scegliere e di conoscere il mondo e di sbagliare.

Attorno ad Isabel ruotano una schiera di personaggi, alcuni molto interessanti. La trama, non troppo complessa, riesce ad avvincere e a riservare anche qualche sorpresa. La prosa di Henry James è ricca, elegante, ironica. Il finale aperto ha un suo fascino, anche se devo ammettere che se non avessi avuto il libro in mano, con le pagine tra le dita ormai finite, avrei pensato che mi mancasse un pezzo…

n  Four Portraits of a Noveln

An Interview with Sigmund Freud circa 1911

Vell, zis book by zis man--vhat vas his name? Henry James--vas very very interesting. He is obviously a deeply conflicted individual. Quite clearly an invert filled mit self-loathzing, desiring ze men und at ze zame time hating himself for doing zo. Ve haf ze heroine of ze novel, Isabel Archer, who is pursued by two men: both of zem handsome, manly (vun of zem is efen called Goodwood) and very rich. Both of zem prepared to gif her her freedom after she marries zem. Zis kind uf man, he does not exist in ze 19th century. Zey are razther ze product of James’s fantasies of ze men zat he desires but cannot haf.

Zo she rejects zem for an artiste, Gilbert Osmond. But vat does she find? Zis artiste is effete und in love mit all zings beautiful und artistic. He is not a real man, but only a simulacrum of vun. James vud haf us see zis effete artiste (so very like James, no?) as evil. He seeks to destroy Isabel, zis woman who can attract zese beautiful men, by crushing her under ze veight of convention. He vants her to be ze perfect vife, to behave exactly as ze rules of society demand. He is ze superego crushing her id.

She tries to escape him but ven her suitor comes for her, ven he embraces her and kisses her, she fears him, or rath-zer Goodwood’s “hard manhood”. Of course, James’s inverted desire cannot be fulfilled, zo, completing ze zircle of self-loathzing desire, she runs back to her effete husband.

An Interview with Bruno Bettleheim circa 1977

Well, this novel is quite clearly a fairy tale, and has all its classic hallmarks. We see the young heroine, Isabel Archer: the youngest of three sisters, and the prettiest and cleverest of the lot. Her father dies and so she sets off on a journey to find her fortune. She is assisted in this by her aunt, Mrs Touchett (playing the role of the fairy godmother).

On her journey, she meets a witch, Madame Merle (it is no surprise that her name sounds like that great wizard of legend, Merlin). She also meets three suitors: Caspar Goodwood (On one level, he is bronze for he is described as brown. On another, he represents money: “Caspar” means treasurer or keeper of the treasure), Lord Warburton (Both silver, and power-–“burton” meaning “fortified tower”), and Gilbert Osmond (Gold--he is described as a gold coin; while poor, as an artistic soul he is able to see beyond surface appearance).

Like all fairy tale heroines, Isabel has to make a choice among the three, and as in all classic fairy tales, she chooses the gold. As in all classic morality tales, she chooses that which is the least superficial. However, in her choice, she is influenced by Madame Merle, our witch, who helps Osmond to appear more attractive to Isabel.

All fairy tales are, as I discuss in my book, n  The Uses of Enchantment The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Talesn, to teach children valuable life lessons. James himself refers to his novel as a fable in his preface. But what is the lesson to be learnt? The ending certainly makes us think that it is not that Isabel’s desire for flight, for independence is a good thing, since flying too close to the hot Caspar Goodwood, she feels herself burnt. Is the lesson then not to want too much independence? To accept the strictures of the upper class? Is this why James says that it is after all her suffering, she finally becomes a lady?

An Interview with Robin Leech circa 1985

Welcome to Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Today, we visit the lovely Italian home of rich American heiress, Isabel Archer. Located in sunny, fabulous Rome, Isabel’s home is decorated with only the most stylish and tasteful of things. Isabel and her husband, Gilbert, host the most sought after soirées among the rich set. Paris Hilton eat your heart out. And what does it take to live like this? A stunning US$7 million!

An Interview with yours truly circa 2009

Meh. When all’s said and done, while this portrait of a lady may certainly have depicted Isabel in all her enigmatic glory, like a Carravaggio or a Rembrant, the background landscape is so dark and blurred with smufato that she seems to exist in a vacuum. The other characters are practically caricatures, and the patriarchal society of the 19th century is completely absent. Ultimately, this depiction of an heiress was just airless. Wharton’s n  The Age of Innocencen does a far better job of depicting the marriage market and the corrupting and stifling effects of rigid social convention at the fin de siècle. So, yeah, meh.

(And, yes, no need to point out that Paris Hilton was no celebrity in 1985. It's called artistic licence. LOL!

I'd give it two stars, but the depiction of Isabel's thoughts was a true tour de force, especially considering how innovative this was when it was written. So, that brings it up a notch to three.)

A work of wonder displaying the naivete' and mistakes of youth and some Americans' missteps in life choices that were driven by gullible and romantic notions of and in Europe. The novel still feels fresh and timely.

I was driven from this novel, after beginning it a few years back, by both its bulk and by my dislike of Washington Square (see, if you will, my caustic review of both the book and the author). I am pleased to have returned to The Portrait of a Lady, so that, finally, I can appreciate the depth of character and psychological acuity of Henry James' writing.

As much as I disliked Washington Square (and was unimpressed by his novella The Beast in the Jungle), I prized this esteemed classic of fiction. I might even return a number of his novels to my TBR list.

There are some classics I read and do not like but still am grateful for having read. I do not think this is one of those. My gut reaction to concluding this book is definitely:



and



butttt I won't give it one star for two reasons.

1. I loved Ralph. Any moment with him was a moment I was happy.

2. I feel so emotionally frustrated with this book that I recognize there has to be something to this story. It didn't bore me. It made me mad but it didn't put me to sleep so I guess it has that going for it.

Overall, though, ridiculously flowery and not much of a plot. Some intriguing characterization, though. Glad I'm done.

**spoilers**
Portrait is a beautifully written novel that exhibits Henry James unique writing style and addresses the social customs and differences in Americans, the English, and continental Europeans. Isabel Archer is a young American lady, for whom the novel is titled, who is adventurous and very independent. She turns down two marriage proposals in the 1st half of the book to preserve her independence, one from Casper Goodwood, a young wealthy American, and one from Lord Warburton, a wealthy English aristocrat. When her English uncle dies, she inherits a large sum of money and travels with her aunt, Mrs. Touchett, to her Italian villa where she eventually meets, falls in love with, and marries Gilbert Osmond. All of her family and friends try to dissuade her from this, but to no avail, and she finally learns that Osmond doesn't love her, married her for her money, and to own her as another of his possessions. Obviously there is a lot more intrigue to the story and the enjoyment for me came from the wonderful writing of James.

8.5/10

This won’t get written the way I wanted to write it, as life has taken as many turns, in the past 6 weeks, as Henry James has commas ... and I can’t be spending much time reviewing — in writing, at least. More’s the pity since I had a lot to say on this one, this time ‘round.

I’ve become a bedside sitter, attendant, to a family member who has been, is, quite ill, ... and so while my time is spent in reading, I’m not sure I'm taking in all that much.

The end of this novel brought me to the beginning of the real life illness, and so Ralph and Isabelle’s last interview brought me to my (emotional) knees, as only those who have read this can appreciate. Hence no spoiler warnings necessary.

Not to turn this into a FB moment, which I loathe, I felt I just wanted to explain to my nearest and dearest goodreaderly friends that I haven't done a runner on you or my reviews, I’m just in a bit of a fog at the moment, from which I hope to emerge soon, and re sharpen my tongue for more irony and sarcasm laden reviews.

I’m sadly missing Ovid’s Metamorphoses group, in which I longed to participate, but the personal metamorphosis which is taking place at the moment is proving to be more transformative than even Ovid could hope to influence on me.

Still reading all your wonderful, witty, charming, insightful, inspiring ... and, most gratifyingly acerbic, reviews. They provide such a joyful, sustaining moment in my day.

Isabelle Archer will have to wait another day for my critique; but as she is the very Queen of Procrastination... and even perhaps Prevarication (since she seems to be so good at lying to herself, if nothing else), she won’t mind at all, as she sits through the night, watching for its end, as we all must do, have done.

Nota: 3.5

“Retrato de Uma Senhora” (1881) é considerada a obra central do legado de Henry James. A mim serviu de porta de entrada, ficando a conhecer o mesmo, mas apesar de alguma admiração suscitada, deixou-me sem motivação para o continuar a ler. James realiza um trabalho soberbo de análise dos processos da consciência humana, na senda do que já nos tinha dado Balzac e Dostoiévski, capturando a nossa atenção ao longo de páginas e páginas de escalpelização dos mundos interiores dos seus personagens. Diga-se que James era irmão de William James, um dos grandes pioneiros da psicologia. O problema surge no conteúdo, nos personagens trabalhados, pela pertença à aristocracia, ou a uma burguesia muito próxima, que torna aquilo que se conta muito pouco interessante.

Existem temas interessantes, como a liberdade e o destino, nomeadamente no campo feminino, mas diga-se que é tudo muito estéril. A senhora, Isabel Archer, que veio dos EUA, dedica-se a passear pela Europa, diz querer ser livre, mas apenas busca alguém com quem casar. O primo, Ralph, que vive há muito em Inglaterra, aparentemente por ser doente, dedica-se a respirar, e como tem de respirar, passeia um pouco menos. Já a tia, vive em passeio pela Europa, enquanto vai maldizendo deste e daquele. Para o resto, existem criados e serviçais, mas desses não é preciso falar. Segundo James, os seus personagens vivem vidas muito complicadas, carregadas de decisões pesadas, que os impedem de desfrutar livremente das belezas de Veneza e Florença. Assim, o livro arrasta-se ao longo de centenas de páginas, pondo à prova a resistência dos mais pacientes, ainda que no final exista uma reviravolta que anima um pouco todo aquele universo.

Reconheço que independentemente da classe social em que se vive o ser humano arranja sempre forma de viver angustiado. Veja-se o caso exposto em “La Familia Grande”. Mas quando se escreve uma obra com esta dimensão, 700 páginas, e com um aprofundamento psicológico deste calibre, espera-se que seja com o objetivo de ilustrar algo relevante para quem lê. Verdade que em 1881 só a alta burguesia e aristocracia deveriam ter tempo e literacia para se dedicarem à leitura. Mas a seguir por este caminho, James castrou o interesse das suas obras, o que me ajuda a compreender porque apesar do seu nome surgir amiúde em textos de análise crítica, as suas obras são bastante menos lidas e citadas que as de outros autores da mesma época.

Entretanto descobri que John Banville gosta tanto de Isabel Archer que passados 140 anos resolveu escrever uma continuação da história da heroína de James — “Mrs Osmond” (2017). Não me admira, já que não fiquei propriamente impressionado com o seu “O Mar” (2005) que ganhou o Booker.


Publicado no VI:
https://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com...

The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James

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 Henry 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, in "confronting her destiny", 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.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز نوزدهم ماه نوامبر سال1976میلادی

عنوان: تصویر یک زن؛ اثر: هنری جیمز؛ مترجم: مجید مسعودی؛ نشر: تهران، در دو جلد، سال1348، در866ص، جلد دوم در31ص و433ص؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده19م

عنوان: تصویر یک زن؛ اثر: هنری جیمز؛ مترجم: مجید مسعودی؛ ویراستار: عنایت سمیعی؛ نشر: تهران، نیلوفر: شرکت انتشارات علمی فرهنگی، چاپ دوم از ویراست دوم سال1390، در798ص، شابک9789644484964؛

شخصیت اصلی داستان، چنانکه ‌از عنوان کتاب برمی‌آید، یک زن جوان به ‌نام: «ایزابل آرچر» است؛ «ایزابل» دختری «آمریکایی» و معصوم و جذابی‌ است، که ‌بنا به ‌پیشنهاد خاله‌ ی خویش خانم «تاچت»، و زیر پشتیبانی او، از «آمریکا» به ‌«انگلستان» می‌آید؛ «هنری جیمز» داستان را که پنجاه و چهار فصل دارد، و ترجمه ‌ی فارسی آن در866صفحه ‌است؛ در «انگلستان» و در محوطه‌ ی چمن وسیع خانه‌ ی خاله‌ ی «ایزابل» آغاز می‌کنند؛ حاضرین در صحنه، ‌سه ‌نفر هستند، که ‌هر سه ‌نقشی تعیین کننده، ‌در زندگی «ایزابل»، ایفا خواهند کرد؛ این سه تن «شوهر خاله‌ ی ایزابل آقای تاچت»، «پسر خاله ی ‌بیمار و دوست داشتنی او رالف»، و «دوست خانوادگی تاچت‌ ها لرد واربرتنِ سی و پنج ساله‌ ی جذاب، مجرد و بسیار ثروتمند»، هستند

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 15/10/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 04/09/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

*SPOILER ALERT* (Read at your own risk)

My first time to read a book by Henry James.

Reading The Portrait of a Lady, said to be his finest novel, is like getting your workout at a gym.

After a day’s work you are tired. You are already zapped of energy. You feel like going to a bar and have a couple of beer listening to a funky live band or the crooning of a lovely young lady. Or you want to go to a nearby mall and sit in the comfort of a dark movie house. Probably sleep to rest for a couple of hours if the movie turns out to be boring.

But you decide to go as you planned at the start of the day. Your gym bag is in your car. You drag your heavy feet to the parking lot. To the gym. You know you have to do it your friend has been telling you that Henry James is good but you imagine the taste of cold beer quenching your thirst or the soft seat inside the theater or the pretty songbird wearing a plunging neckline or showing her slim smooth legs there are quick reads waiting for you like Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451 or that Flowers for Argenon by Daniel Keyes. But you know your body needs exercise. You are becoming fatter, heavier and your waistline is expanding. You resisted the quick but empty lure of beer or sleep at the movie house. Your heart is telling you that Henry James is an author to read. Like a zombie, you continued sleepwalking to the gym.

After changing to your gym attire. You step on the treadmill. The solitude of working out. In the gym, you rarely talk to anyone. Henry James used a style that was distinctively his: wordy yet illuminating You are by yourself. Most of your friends don’t care about Henry James. You begin to walk. Warm up. After a couple of minutes, you increase the speed. Chug. Chug. Chug. It goes on and on. His storytelling went on and on. His characters came from New York, to England, went to Paris, then to Rome and then went back to England and finally went back to Rome. After the treadmill, you lift some weights as you also need to tone some muscles. His characters were varied. There was Isabel Archer fighting for her independence by refusing marriage proposals like there was not tomorrow but in the end she found with the wrong man: conceited, two-timer, treacherous and condescending. Some muscles are not supposed to be exercised right after a neighboring one. They could be contradicting each other and not only you will not get the maximum benefit from your workout but you are in the danger of having an injury like some pulled muscles. Isabel’s cousin Ralph Touchett is the “conscience” of the novel, telling by instinct whether the person-character is good or bad. He is sick but he is the only character that has the purest heart.

You came to the gym gloomy and dragged your feet as you did not have the energy even to go up a couple of stairs. Some people agonize reading this kind of 19th century Victorian English But when you came out to go back to your car, you felt energized and refreshed. You felt triumphant that Isabel Archer was going back to Rome for Pansy not necessarily for Oswald. But she decided whatever her heart was telling her. In the end, it was all that mattered: independence. She followed her heart: a personal triumph.

In the end, you did not regret going to the gym. In the end, I am happy I read a Henry James.

??? 2000s: this was the ‘middle’ i read of 3 henry james i read one summer several years ago, though it is known as late 'early'. : 'early' The American, The Portrait of a Lady , and 'late' The Ambassadors i remember how impressed i was by the creation of isabel archer, how alive she seemed, how good, kind, smart- basically wonderful- and how annoying i found her pyrrhic victory at the end. she is one of the few women characters i have read whom i could believe being in love with. she is just that real, that good, though i do not know how much the effect was by james’ writing, and how much was the complex character imagined. i never felt i knew what she would do, she was not a plot function, a cliche, a stereotype. i could recognize the consistency of her sacrifice for the love of the girl pansy, even facing osmond…

i detested osmond but perhaps was more against madame merle for making him seem better than he was. i also read the interesting essay of this edition which explained how henry james had deliberately created a strong woman who was unique in letters of that era, in that she is not destroyed for presuming to have her own life and desires. the comparisons were with anna karenina and emma bovary. good critical work. great book...

Boring, dull, and endless. Almost threw it against a wall when I was finally! done with it.

„тя обичаше само приятните усложнения“

Портретът на една дама или история на една самозаблуда – вземете което искате от двете за централно в романа и няма да сбъркате. За първи път чета книга на Хенри Джеймс и съм поразена от размаха му в едновременното изграждане и разплитане на човешките характери, в психологическото разнищване зад всяко действие и реплика. Което всъщност е интересно, защото въпреки изчерпателния характеров анализ на героите, така и не успях да си обясня главната героиня до самия край.

Зад пространното изложение се крие много семпла история – младата aмериканка Изабел Арчър е самопровъзгласен идеалист с много високи изисквания към себе си и другите и с високи духовни стремежи. Попадайки в Англия, скоро Изабел се оказва богата наследница, която най-накрая може да осъществи желанията си да пътува и опознае живота, а предложенията за брак от английски лорд и американски предприемач са само досадни подробности по пътя. Изабел подлага на жесток критичен анализ всичко и всички около себе си, осланяйки се на абстрактни понятия и книжни идеали, затова не е никак чудно, че попада в капана на първия срещнат пресметлив хитрец. Но и нещастието като такова не е достатъчно да разтърси нашата героиня, която търпи един отровен брак като съзнателно самонаказание.

„Портрет на една дама“ ме вбеси с главната си героиня, която, въпреки бавното си отърсване от илюзиите, не претвори това отърсване в действие. Може би е нечестно да я откъсвам от контекста в края на 19 век, но литературата познава далеч по-действени героини от този период. Иначе идеите в романа и тяхната трактовка ми допаднаха - за това доколко наистина притежаваме себе си, за силата (или слабостта), която ни предоставят многото пари, за лесните заблуди на интелекта.

Мъжките образи, особено този на братовчеда Ралф, са далеч по-симпатични. У Ралф изкристализира перфектният джентълмен на епохата – ироничен викторианец с много умело прикрито зад цинизъм благородство на характера.

Любопитни са и паралелите между Англия и САЩ от това време – разбиранията за прогрес, за добро прекарване на времето и идеята за добрия гражданин явно са били предмет на горещ дебат и постоянни сравнения от двете страни на океана.

За предпазливите към „тежките класики“ е добре да се уточни, че Хенри Джеймс пише напоително само в един аспект – в описанието на човешките характери. Но това е напълно достатъчно, за да е брилянтен.


„…най-голямата ценност в човека е жизнеността“

„Да помогнеш някому да осъществи добрите си пориви – какво по-благородно от това?“

„Но нима това, че притежаваш големи качества, е било някога гаранция за човешко щастие? Нима историята не бе изпълнена с примери за гибелта на ценни хора? Не беше ли по-вярно, че човек страда повече, ако притежава по-големи духовни ценности?“