The Outcry

by Henry James

"The Outcry" by Henry James is a novel published in 1911, originally conceived as a play. When a widowed British lord plans to sell a prized Reynolds painting to an American billionaire to cover debts, a young art critic and the lord's daughter oppose the sale, sparking patriotic controversy in the press. The story explores tensions between preserving national art treasures and financial necessity, as new discoveries and public outcry force difficult choices about Britain's cultural heritage.