Although born American, Henry James is best known as a "British" writer. After family visits to Europe, he settled in London in his early 20s, where he remained for the rest of his life. He did visit America occasionally, and his ashes lie in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Brother of the famed psychologist and philosopher William James, Henry took a more literary turn with the family genius. Some of his best-known works have been produced as films. Indeed, he has 127 writing credits on the Internet Movie Database (which includes television productions). Some of his works, such as "Washington Square" and "The Turn of the Screw," have been produced numerous times.

    "The Wings of the Dove" was produced for television as early as 1952, and as a film as recently as 1997. The 1902 novel is No. 25 on the list of "The 100 Greatest Novels of the 20th Century."

    It involves a sort of love triangle. Kate and Merton are engaged. Kate is a social climber, seeking wealth, but also wants Merton, who is as poor as she is. Kate's aunt is wealthy, but would not approve of Merton, so the engagement is kept secret.

    Enter Milly, a rich American who seems attracted to Merton. Kate hatches a plot. As Kate has discovered that Milly has a fatal disease, Merton is to woo Milly and marry her. The plan is that Merton gets the money when Milly dies; then Kate and Merton can marry, and Kate gets everything she dreamed of.

    But Milly learns of the plot, and eschews Merton. Yet, when she dies, she leaves him a great deal of money.

    However, Merton, who has become principled, rejects the money. Kate begs him to take it, and he delivers an ultimatum. If she insists on having the money, he'll accept it and give it to her -- but he will leave her. If she rejects the money as he did, he is hers.

    The story ends on a cryptic note, with Kate saying: "We shall never be again as we were!"

    The story explores some of the same territory as the works of E.M. Forster. As an expat, James, too, was keenly interested in the relations between classes and cultures.

    Vocabulary: Which word above means:

    1. having morals

    2. a required choice that may lead to serious consequences

    3. hidden, secretive

    4. rejects, gets rid of

    5. decided to stay

    6. remains after a body is cremated

    7. one who wishes to rise above his or her class

    8. conceives of a plan

    9. date or romance [someone]

    10. deadly, ending in death

    ANSWERS: 1. principled 2. ultimatum 3. cryptic 4. eschews 5. settled 6. ashes 7. social climber 8. hatches a plot 9. woo [someone] 10. fatal