The Portrait of a Lady

By: Henry James

Narrated by: John Wood

Exclusively from Audible

When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American, is brought to Europe by her wealthy aunt Touchett, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to enjoy the freedom that her fortune has opened up and to determine her own fate, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors, declaring that she will never be wed.

It is only when she finds herself irresistibly drawn to the cultivated but worthless Gilbert Osmond that she discovers that wealth is a two-edged sword. She becomes a victim of her own provincialism and the scheming of her friends, learning only too late that there is a price to be paid for independence. A tragic tale of love and betrayal, it still resonates with audiences today.

With its subtle delineation of American characters in a European setting, The Portrait of a Lady is considered the masterpiece of the first phase of James's career and arguably his most popular story. Within it we find a reflection of James's interest in the differences between the New World and the Old, often to the detriment of the former.

A film adaptation was made in 1996 by New Zealand director Jane Campion, starring Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich, and Barbara Hershey.

Narrator Biography

Having begun his career on stage, John Wood spent seven years in television before eventually playing lead roles in Tom Stoppard's teleplays in 1967. After two Tony nominations for his performances in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and Sherlock Holmes, he won the award for Best Actor for his role in Stoppard's surrealistic farce, Travesties, in 1976. He also had a long career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and continued his theatre work in both America and the UK, eventually receiving a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 1997 for his role in Stoppard's Invention of Love.

In 1996, Wood performed in BBC Radio 3's audio production of Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw and in 2010 he narrated audiobook The Portrait of a Lady with Audible Studios. His appearances in feature films have included Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) and, later, television appearances have included Foyles's War (2004) and Lewis (2007). In 2007 he was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Real fine lady, who's that lady?

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.

Great read, good reader

What did you love best about The Portrait of a Lady?

James' insight into human motivation for action or inaction. Also his beautiful use of language and his subtle humor.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Portrait of a Lady?

Isabel's moments of self reflection are beautiful and often heartbreaking, especially near the end of the book when they are more pointed and more painful.

Have you listened to any of John Wood’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, the book is quite long and dense. I preferred to listen, take a break, then continue or even re-listen to passages.

Any additional comments?

On the whole I liked John Wood's reading. He gets it. My one complaint is the way he handles young women's voices. They sound like mock children. This is especially a problem with this book as I feel the listener needs to somewhat fall in love with the protagonist to really understand the book.

Best audible recording I’ve ever heard

John Wood’s sense for the subtleties of tone and syntax in James brings life to each of the sentences he reads. A masterpiece of a recording; adequately nuanced for someone as fine as James. A 24 hours blissfully spent.

Excellent Performance!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Portrait of a Lady to be better than the print version?

I loved hearing this audio book read, and I think it is easier to listen to a book like this than read the print version.

What does John Wood bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He expresses the real emotion behind the characters and sets a good mood and tone for the book.

Masterful narration of the Master's finest

I hadn't read Portrait since I was about Isabel Archer's age. I'm now in mid-life, and the story and its takeaways resonate even more: there are things we have to give up if we are to live a principled life. Then again, the contemporary feminist in me screams at Isabel to bend so she doesn't break. There are so many psychological insights here; James was so far ahead of his time and so sympathetic to women's inner lives. It's an essential read -- and listen!
Wood does a really fine job with the different characters. As another reviewer noted, Wood shows a deep understanding of the plot and character, and delivers really nuanced and often entertaining performances. I laughed aloud at some of his characterizations -- Henrietta, Mrs. Touchett, and the Countess Gemini in particular. I wasn't bothered by his American accents; they are a blend of American and British English, the way expats often wind up speaking. I usually both read and listen to a novel simultaneously; Wood's performance actually added depth, humor and vigor to counter what can sometimes seem like lugubrious writing on the part of James, who is still one of my favorite authors. I just never realized he was a humorist -- even a satirist -- as well! Highly recommend this performance, especially if you are a devotée, as I am, of Victorian novels, and just can't bear one more Juliet Stephenson narration (love her, but sometimes one needs a break).