The Portrait of a Lady: A Norton Critical Edition (Norton Critical Editions)

“Michael Gorra’s wise and worldly new critical edition of James’s first masterpiece will help readers of all persuasions appreciate The Portrait of a Lady as a brilliant experiment in the art of the novel; as a landmark in the emergence of American literature; and as an open-ended, quietly terrifying meditation on American identity in its encounter with the world.” ―Mary Loeffelholz, Northeastern University

This Norton Critical Edition includes:

• The New York Edition of the novel, accompanied by Michael Gorra’s introduction and explanatory footnotes.
• Background and contextual materials centering on James as a writer, The Portrait of a Lady in revision, and reviews of the novel by James’s contemporaries.
• Seven important critical essays, chosen for their accessibility.
• A Chronology and Suggestions for Further Reading.

About the Series

Read by more than 12 million students over fifty-five years, Norton Critical Editions set the standard for apparatus that is right for undergraduate readers. The three-part format―annotated text, contexts, and criticism―helps students to better understand, analyze, and appreciate the literature, while opening a wide range of teaching possibilities for instructors. Whether in print or in digital format, Norton Critical Editions provide all the resources students need.