The works collected here span the early and late periods of Henry James’ career. Widely considered the finest of his early novels, The Portrait of a Lady exemplifies a familiar theme
in James’ writing: the meeting of Europe and America. Here, the young and innocent Isabel Archer arrives in England determined to make the most of her newfound freedom. But, the path to
maturity proves difficult when other expat Americans manipulate her into marriage. The Bostonians, a witty and biting satire on American life, turns romantic convention on its head.
The story explores the obsessive affections of the radical Olive Chancellor for Verena Tarrant, a gifted young speaker in the feminist movement. A bitter tug of war erupts when Olive’s cousin
Basil Ransom becomes equally besotted. In the eerie, unforgettable The Turn of the Screw, a naïve governess begins to see the ghosts her young charges do — or do they?
