The opening section introduces the main characters and sets the stage for the unfolding drama. Kate Croy, though impoverished, refuses to sever her ties to high society while trying to maintain her love for Merton Densher. However, her family, particularly her aunt Maud, opposes their relationship, creating an initial conflict. Milly Theale, a young and wealthy American woman, becomes a central figure due to her fragile health and inherited fortune. Traveling to England, Milly seeks to find her place in life and forms connections with Kate and Merton. Her innocence and wealth attract attention, leading to the development of complex relationships. Kate begins to devise a plan to secure her future with Merton by leveraging Milly¡¯s fortune. As the characters¡¯ desires and motives gradually come to light, tension builds. The contrast between Milly¡¯s purity and Kate¡¯s calculating nature foreshadows the conflicts to come, setting the foundation for the unfolding drama.
BOOK FIRST
THE WINGS OF THE DOVE
I
II
BOOK SECOND
III
IV
BOOK THIRD
V
VI