Wings of the Dove

The Wings of the Dove is perhaps the most well-received of Henry James's novels. First published in 1902, it follows Kate Croy and Merton Densher, an engaged couple in late-Victorian London, who meet Milly Theale, a wealthy American heiress.Milly, though young and lively, is burdened with a fatal disease. She wishes to spend her last days on happy adventures through Europe, and her sparkling personality captivates all who meet her. Kate, recognizing that Milly is in love with Merton, hatches a plan: if Merton makes Milly fall in love with him and marries her, he will inherit her fortune when she dies, and then he and Kate can be together.Perfect for readers who appreciate psychological depth and moral complexity, The Wings of the Dove is a devastating portrait of love, deception, and the costs of using other people to achieve our own ends.