The Outcry

The Outcry Synopsis

Henry James wrote a book titled The Outcry in 1911. It was once intended to be a play. His final work, The Outcry, was finished just before he passed away in 1916.

The plot centers on affluent Americans purchasing priceless works of art from Britain. The widower Lord Theign intends to sell American millionaire Breckenridge Bender his exquisite painting Duchess of Waterbridge by Sir Joshua Reynolds to pay off the gambling debts of his daughter Kitty Imber. Young art critic Hugh Crimble opposes the sale, saying that Britain's priceless works of art should remain in the nation.

Lady Grace, Theign's astute daughter, lends him encouragement. When word of the Reynolds' impending sale reaches the media, a patriotic uproar erupts, much to Bender's delight. Crimble, meantime, has discovered another artwork in Theign's collection that he believes to be a Mantovano rare. (James believed this artist to be a fabrication; nevertheless, it was later discovered that a little-known painter by that name actually existed.) Crimble's suspicion on the Mantovano eventually proves to be accurate.

Theign decides not to sell the Reynolds to Bender and instead chooses to gift the Mantovano to the National Gallery. His friend Lady Sandgate joins forces with Theign by giving her family's Sir Thomas Lawrence artwork to the Gallery.