The young and beautiful Kate Croy finds herself torn between her love for the penniless journalist Merton Densher and her desire for a life of wealth and privilege. When she becomes acquainted with the wealthy Milly Theale she devises a plan that hopefully will lead to both love and riches. However, as she navigates the complexities of love and loyalty, she must confront the consequences of her actions and decide where her true allegiances lie.

HENRY JAMES [1843 -1916] was born in New York but emigrated to Europe early in life. He is one of the most important figures in Anglo-Saxon turn-of-the-century literature, with novels such as The American [1877] and the horror novel The Turn of the Screw [1898].