Washington Square

by Henry James

"Washington Square" by Henry James is a novel written in 1880 about a plain, shy young woman caught between her wealthy father's disapproval and a charming suitor's romantic attention. When Catherine Sloper falls for the handsome Morris Townsend, her skeptical father suspects the man only wants her inheritance. What follows is a painful battle of wills that will test Catherine's loyalty, challenge her innocence, and ultimately force her to confront harsh truths about love, family, and betrayal in 1840s New York society.