When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American, is brought to Europe, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to enjoy her freedom, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors. Then she finds herself irresistibly drawn to Gilbert Osmond. Charming and cultivated, Osmond sees Isabel as a rich prize waiting to be taken. Beneath his veneer of civilized behavior, Isabel discovers cruelty and a stifling darkness. In this portrait of a young woman affronting her destiny, Henry James created one of his most magnificent heroines, and a story of intense poignancy.