The Portrait of a Lady

By: Henry James

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

Length: 26 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The Portrait of a Lady tells the compelling and ultimately tragic tale of a beautiful young American woman's encounter with European sophistication. Set principally in England and Italy, the story follows Isabel Archer's fortunes as a variety of admirers vie for her hand. Her choice will be crucial, and she is not wanting for advice, whether from the generous-spirited Ralph Touchett or the charming Madame Merle.

The Portrait of a Lady was an immediate success upon publication; it remains the most popular of James' longer works and is generally regarded as the masterpiece of his early period.

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Public Domain (P)2016 Naxos AudioBooks

Juliet Stevenson is brilliant as ever

The sound engineers for this book are not
JS's narration of Henrietta for example was so loud it hurt my ears - esp because that character has such a brash nasal tone. When I'd turn down the volume when her character was speaking then I'd have to turn the volume right back up in order to hear the narrators voice or Ralph's, etc
Juliet has an amazing capacity to do so many voices expressing the personality of each character perfectly. That's talent
As for the story all I could say was WTH? at the end. It's almost as if James got tired of writing and just cut off the story as expediently as possible. To go through so much detail and flesh out each character so well then at the end just finish with She went back to Rome?
Honestly. If he was too bored or tired to end the story properly and with some logical extension of the last couple of scenes, then he should've left it up to one of his talented contemporaries to finish the story

The reading equivalent of listening to A Brahms Symphony

This is a perfect novel, brilliantly read. I enjoyed It immensely. As I said the equivalent of listening to a soulfully profound Brahms Symphony. Deeply sad but also bright, vivid and strangely optimistic.

This One Will Keep You Up

This story becomes more and more engrossing as it progresses. The narrator is one of my favorites and she does the story justice with the exception of her American accents which tend to have an unlikely, crude edge...as though everyone from the USA is from the south shore of New Jersey. Putting aside that disappointment, and the disappointment of the ending, it is well worth a listen.

Hypnotic, Romantic, Challenging

Henry James is not an easy read, let's just get that out of the way. He was an incredibly verbose, detailed writer, the likes of which we do not see in modern writing. I found his storytelling incredibly hypnotic and beautiful - but yes, it does try one's patience. Read this book if you want to give your brain a workout and improve your focus and ability to concentrate. It's very good for that, and I truly mean it. But do not read this book if you want a very plot-driven, quick read, because the plot really does take a very long time to play out and even the end is slightly abrupt, in my view. This book, like all of James' novels, is a commitment, but you will be very enriched for having read it. Personally, I preferred The Wings of the Dove because the plot - also very slow to begin and to play out - was more interesting to me, but Portrait is a fine novel as well and reading Henry James is good for the brain and the soul. I see other reviews here, complaining of the narrator's American accents, and while this did not bother me personally, yes, they are a bit theatrical but I would listen to Juliet Stephenson read a grocery list, honestly.

More subtle audio interpretation of Isabel needed

I enjoyed this reading of a novel that I know well. A major problem for me is the way Isabel Archer’s lines are read. She’s reduced to a stereotypical American—almost Henrietta Stackpole. Given the significance of her role, this is a major problem, reflecting the reader’s inability to comprehend fully the protagonist. Editor was needed early on.

Juliet Stevenson is wonderful

I love Juliet Stevenson as an actress on the screen, and her voice is perfect for this novel. The story was hard for me to get into at first, but once I did, I was hooked. If you like Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, etc., but want something a little grittier; this is a great choice- A classic that was new to me.

Portrait of a Lady, after sixty years

I remember reading Portrait of a Lady in college and loving it, To revisit it today, after fifty years was delicious joy!

Love Juliet Stevenson, but she has a terrible ear

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

not sure I loved it but there are flighs of language that are deeply wonderful

What other book might you compare The Portrait of a Lady to and why?

I think it is Diceknsian while trying to be Whartonian. James is in his own way all the time--loving his own cleverness. it's like French cooking--take some meat, do omething to it, then do something else to that and then do something alse to it it all

Would you listen to another book narrated by Juliet Stevenson?

Perhaps, but not one where she impersonated Americans. She and/or the director seem to have a very narrow view of us. Her young bright girls sound like middle aged matrons, vocally, her Isabelle sounded half-witted and breathy, Ms. Stackpole a screeching bourgeoise twice her intended age. her Englishmen did not have much to distinguish among them. Im a third-generation New Yorker, well acquainted with the different ways we can all sound and sadly she never came close. Even the odious Gilbert had less personality than described for him.and Pansy-! surely an Englishwoman can do a better French accentnnn.

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

Couldn't

Any additional comments?

Still finishing it. So tragic.

Packs a punch

Listening to this story after an absence of forty years serves to teach me that views change over time. Today, I see Balzac with the presence of money in relationships. James weaves a long story and then out of nowhere there is a slap to the face. The narrator successfully brings all this to life.

Another brilliant rendition of a novel by Juliet Stevenson

A brilliant book, a brilliant audible.
I noticed that in another review that there was a complaint about the American accent of Ms Stevenson. I could not disagree more. Ms Stevenson imbued a more sophisticated rendition of wealthy Americans within the stories appropriate to the late 19th century and not a Texas drawl!
This audible met all my expectations for a Juliet Stevenson performance.
Please read Mrs Oswald by John Banville for a brilliant and credible conclusion to this story,