Show Notes
Podcast 14: our final podcast of this academic year, just in time for some satisfying holiday reading, is an interview with former colleague John Fanagan, who talks about Henry James's great 1881 novel The Portrait of a Lady. Set in England and Italy, the book examines the progress of the innocent American young woman Isabel Archer, as she comes into contact with the ways of an older civilisation. John discusses other characters in the novel, such as Ralph Touchett, Lord Warburton, Madame Merle, Henrietta Stacpoole and the dark Gilbert Osmond. There's a spoiler warning before the last few minutes of the podcast, in which the infamous ending is discussed, so if you haven't already read the novel, you might like to pause it then, and return later.
More from Julian Girdham
The start of the major turning point of the play, Act 3 scene 3. By the end of this, there is still no real sign of what will catastrophically happen in the next episode.
The second half of Act 2 scene 3, as Iago gets things into line before the central scene of the play, Act 3 scene 3. Brief comments also on 3.1 and 3.2.
Act 2 scene 3 is a busy one, with a lot of action moving quickly, in advance of the central scene of the play, Act 3 scene 3, which is only a few minutes' acting away. This episode is on the first part of 2.3.
Completing Act 2 scene 1, and a brief mention of Act 2 scene 2.
Act 2 scene 1. The play moves to Cyprus, far away from so-called 'civilised' Venice, a move marked by a significant sea-storm. More on www.juliangirdham.com