The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2
This second volume of Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady, first published in 1881, takes up the story of Isabel Archer after she has inherited a fortune and settled in Italy. Courted by Lord Warburton and the persistent American Caspar Goodwood, she has instead chosen to marry Gilbert Osmond, a cultivated expatriate living in Florence with his young daughter Pansy, a match encouraged by the enigmatic Madame Merle. In Rome, years later, Isabel slowly discovers the nature of her marriage and of the people who arranged it, and she must decide what freedom and duty mean to her. Subtle and intensely psychological, this half of the novel contains some of the finest scenes James ever wrote. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2
The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 by Henry James can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 online?
Yes. The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 in the public domain?
Yes. The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 by Henry James is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2?
About 7 h 35 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2?
The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 2 by Henry James is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
