The Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2

by Henry James

"The Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2" by Henry James is a novel published in 1902. It follows Milly Theale, a wealthy young American heiress facing a fatal illness, and the people drawn into her orbit. Among them are Kate Croy and Merton Densher, two Londoners desperate to marry but lacking money. As Milly's health deteriorates, a complex plan emerges that will test the boundaries of love, morality, and self-interest. What begins in London culminates in Venice, where hidden motives and concealed engagements unravel with devastating consequences.