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The Portrait of a Lady is one of Henry James’s most famous long novels. It is also regarded as one of his finest works by literary critics. Summary of the Book Isabel Archer is a spirited young American woman. She becomes the only heir of a large amount of money and hence becomes the victim of Machiavellian deceit by two American refugees. The story, set mostly in England and Italy, is regarded as the masterpiece of James’s early period as a writer. It will subtly depict the differences between the Old and the New World, often to the detriment of the latter. The book also explores themes like betrayal, responsibility, and freedom. About Henry James Henry James was born in New York, USA. He is famous as one of the most important writers of literary realism. He has penned several novellas, short stories, fiction and nonfiction works. Some of the notable books written by Henry James are: The Beast in the Jungle, The Turn of the Screw, The Wings of the Dove, The Tragic Muse, and The Ambassadors.