Portrait

I just finished reading ‘Portrait of a Lady’ by Henry James. Where has James been my whole life? This novel was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I am smitten by 19th century European dramas. Perhaps it is the thick, descriptive and dense writing style that I admire or perhaps it is just witty commentary that I enjoy. The characters in ‘Portrait’ were masterfully crafted, easily filling my imagination with their personalities. The main character, Isabel, was enviously described as clever and high spirited but she seemed to lack any real sympathy or compassion until the very end after she had suffered greatly and realized that the machinations of others had been her demise. It’s difficult to observe someone choose suffering over happiness in the name of liberty. Isabel’s husband and his companion in evil designs Madame Merle were two of the most wicked characters I had ever encountered. Ralph, Isabel’s cousin was sweet and charming.

I think a more appropriate title for the book would be ‘Portrait of an Aristocratic Lady Keeping Up Appearances.’ Isabel refused to show her real emotions and tried desperately to always appear cool, calm and emotionally controlled. Such emotional discipline today would require medication.