Chapters 1-4 Summary

Henry James wrote this novel in the late 1890's. It is rumored that it is based on an anecdote he once heard at a dinner.

Chapter 1. Dr. Sloper is a fifty year old doctor when this novel begins. In the 1820s Dr. Sloper married on Miss Catherine Harrington, a young woman who had an income of ten thousand dollars a year. Dr. Sloper could have married her for her money, but in truth he married her for her money. They had a son together and were quite happy, but the child died at the age of three. Two years later Mrs. Sloper had a daughter and died a week later. Very disappointed not only in the death of his wife, but to be left with a daughter, Dr. Sloper none the less takes on the responsibility of raising his daughter.

Chapter...