The Portrait of a LadyThe Portrait of a Lady
Score Classic
What it's about
Isabel Archer, a spirited young American brought to Europe by her wealthy aunt, is determined to choose her own fate and turns down two eligible suitors, then falls for Gilbert Osmond, whose charm hides real cruelty.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a poignant story of love and betrayal.
You'll love it if you liked
Washington Square
The Age of Innocence
MiddlemarchGood to know
It's a long classic.
By the numbers
- Readers19 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller23 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Henry James
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Quick answers
Is The Portrait of a Lady worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,759 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 57.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Portrait of a Lady about?
Isabel Archer, a spirited young American brought to Europe by her wealthy aunt, is determined to choose her own fate and turns down two eligible suitors, then falls for Gilbert Osmond, whose charm hides real cruelty.
How long does it take to read The Portrait of a Lady?
About 17 hours (666 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Portrait of a Lady?
If you liked it, try Washington Square by Henry James, The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton or Middlemarch by George Eliot.