An American heiress newly arrived in Europe, Isabel Archer does not look to a man to furnish her with her destiny; instead she desires, with grace and courage, to find it herself. Two eligible suitors approach her and are refused. She then becomes utterly captivated by the languid charms of Gilbert Osmond. To him, she represents a superior prize worth at least seventy thousand pounds; through him, she faces a tragic choice.
Demystifying Marriage, Men, and Romance
With wit, humor, and an engaging style, Barreca considers the evolving roles of husbands and wives in American culture, and reveals how the static myths that many women cling to can lead to unhappiness in today's changing world.
Kniha lehkou formou s množstvím odkazů na literaturu i filmografii popisuje možnosti vyrovnávání se s křivdami, formy společensky únosné agresivity i fakt, že touha po odplatě je naprosto přirozená. Vhodné je, že neposkytuje návody a rady, jak naplnit pomstychtivost. Obětem nespravedlnosti může její čtení ulehčit snášet situaci.