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Title: The Portrait of a Lady
Author: Henry James
Narrator: Juliet Stevenson
Format: Unabridged
Length: 26 hrs and 47 mins
Language: English
Release date: 08-10-16
Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 104 votes
Genres: Classics, American Literature
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.
Members Reviews:
Couldn't get past the terrible American accents.
What did you like best about The Portrait of a Lady? What did you like least?
I didn't finish listening to this audiobook because Ms. Stevenson's American accent was terrible. I loved her reading of Middlemarch, but she really dropped the ball on The Portrait of a Lady. The characters sounded stiff and two dimensional and overall, the quality of the reading distracted from the story.
Narrator missed main character voice
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Said that Juliet Stevenson is one of my favorite narrator, she made sound the heroin, Isabel Archer, like an idiot.Forgive me Juilet I truly love you but a young American doesn't have to sound idiotic, she supposed to be very smart.
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.
Real Deep
If you could sum up The Portrait of a Lady in three words, what would they be?
personal, deep, real
What other book might you compare The Portrait of a Lady to and why?
Portrait of a Lady is so singular that I would be hard pressed to find a comparison, but I suppose "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë comes closest because they both feature strong, independent women. Portrait of a Lady is groundbreaking in its realism, pulling away from the romanticism of Jane Eyre.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I enjoyed the dialogue both exterior and interior the most. It sounded fresh and real like people today. I could not believe what I was hearing.
