The Wings of the Dove

The Wings of the Dove (1902) by Henry James tells the story of Milly Theale, a young, wealthy, orphaned New York heiress who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Seeking to live life to the fullest before she dies, she travels to London with her middle-aged companion, Susan Stringham, where she meets the ambitious and scheming Maud Lowder and her niece, Kate Croy. Kate is secretly engaged to the charming yet penniless Merton Densher, who has met Milly a handful of times in New York. When Kate learns of Milly’s terminal illness, she hatches a scheme. Kate encourages Densher to court Milly in the hope that she will marry him and leave her fortune to him when she dies. Thematically, the novel explores The Instrumentalization of Relationships, The Heroism of Kindness and Courage, and Indirect Communication Through Implication, Insinuation, and Silence.

James is one of the most celebrated authors of the 19th and early 20th century. He is known for his dense prose and careful observations of the culture clashes between the privileged classes of the United States, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe. His most famous works include the novels Daisy Miller (1879), The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Turn of the Screw (1898), and The Ambassadors (1903).

This guide is based on the 2008 paperback British Penguin Classics edition.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide feature depictions of terminal illness, death, and suicidal ideation.

Language Note: The source material includes two uses of offensive terms for Black people, which are not reproduced in this guide.

Plot Summary

The Wings of the Dove is divided into ten parts referred to as “Books.” The narrative shifts between four perspectives, those of Kate Croy, Merton Densher, Milly Theale, and Susan Stringham.

In Book First, Kate Croy visits her dissolute father, Lionel. She tells him that her wealthy Aunt Maud has agreed to take her in following the death of her mother, on the condition that Kate break off all contact with her father. She asks her father if he wants her to stay with him. He tells her to stay with Aunt Maud in hopes that when Aunt Maud dies and Kate inherits her fortune, he can benefit from the proceeds. Kate meets with her sister, Marian, who tells Kate to marry the man Aunt Maud has selected for her, the titled Lord Mark, instead of the man Kate loves, the gossip columnist Merton Densher.

In Book Second, Densher meets with Kate in the park. Kate tells Densher that Maud wants her to marry Lord Mark. Densher wants to elope with Kate, but Kate tells him to talk to Maud first. Densher meets with Maud, who suggests that Densher knows he is not good enough for Kate. Soon after, Densher is sent to the United States for work for several months. Before he leaves, Kate and Densher secretly get engaged.

In Book Third, middle-aged American widower Susan Stringham describes how she met orphaned, wealthy heiress Milly Theale while Milly was visiting Boston. Susan was quickly enamored by the young woman. Soon after their meeting, Milly asks Susan to travel with her to Europe. Susan agrees. Susan knows that Milly suffered a health scare before leaving, but does not know the details. Milly and Susan are in the Swiss Alps. One afternoon, Milly goes for a walk by herself. Susan is alarmed, but she realizes Milly is just exercising her freedom. That evening, Milly declares she wants to go to London. Susan agrees to write her old friend Maud in London.

In Book Fourth, Milly and Susan arrive in London. They go to dinner at Maud’s house, where they meet Kate and Lord Mark. Milly and Kate quickly become friends. Susan likewise enjoys rekindling her friendship with Maud. Susan learns from Maud that Kate is close with Densher. She passes the news on to Milly, who expresses surprise as Kate has never mentioned Densher to her. A few days later, Kate takes Milly to meet her sister, Marian, who asks Milly to encourage Kate not to marry Densher. Milly interprets this as a sign that Densher is in love with Kate, but that Kate does not love Densher.

In Book Fifth, Milly, Kate, Susan, Maud, and Lord Mark go to a garden party at a manor house. Lord Mark shows Milly a 16th-century Italian Renaissance portrait that resembles Milly. Milly is so moved that she begins to cry. When Milly has a moment alone with Kate, she asks her to accompany her to see an eminent physician without telling Susan. Kate agrees. The next day, Milly goes with Kate to see Sir Luke Strett. Milly and Sir Luke talk briefly, and he agrees to see her. Two days later, Milly returns to the doctor alone. He advises her that she do her best to live as much as she can; the implication is that Milly has a terminal diagnosis. Milly returns to her hotel and reassures Kate that everything is fine. They discuss where to travel as the summer draws to a close in London. A few days later, Milly, Susan, Kate, and Maud dine together. After dinner, Maud tells Milly that she thinks Densher is infatuated with Kate, but that Kate does not feel the same way about him. Later that evening, Kate tells Milly that Maud intends for Kate to marry Lord Mark. She also tells Milly that Maud likely has a plan for Milly as well, one that has yet to be revealed.

The next day, Milly leaves the apartment so Susan can meet privately with Sir Luke, who intends to share with Susan some details, though not all, of Milly’s illness. Milly goes to the National Gallery, where she runs into Kate and Densher together. They are all surprised to see each other. Milly invites Densher and Kate to lunch. She notices that Kate speaks with Susan in the other room, leaving Milly alone with Densher. She feels that this confirms Maud’s opinion that Kate does not love Densher.

In Book Sixth, the chronology shifts to show the past two days from Densher’s point of view. Densher arrives in London. Kate meets him at the station, and he’s delighted to see her. Kate tells him she has a plan for the two of them that involves Milly. The next day, Kate and Densher go to the National Gallery together. The following day, Kate and Densher meet at Maud’s house. Kate tells Densher that he should begin to court Milly. Although Densher does not understand why, he agrees to do so. The next day, Densher goes to dinner at Maud’s house. Susan arrives for dinner without Milly, explaining that Milly is feeling unwell, and Densher notices Susan seems anxious. After dinner, Kate tells Densher that Milly likely has a grave illness. She notes that Milly postponed her departure from London so she could see him. She suggests that Densher can be a comfort to Milly while she is dying. Later, Maud presses Densher to court Milly as well. She hopes that, with Densher otherwise engaged, Kate will be more willing to marry Lord Mark. The next day, Densher goes to see Milly. He agrees to go on a carriage ride with her. While he waits for Milly to get ready, Kate arrives at the hotel. She is pleased Densher is doing as she asked.

Book Seventh goes back in the timeline to show the day Milly ran into Kate and Densher from Susan’s point of view. While Milly is at the National Gallery, Susan meets with Sir Luke. Upset by what she learns, Susan goes to Maud’s house. She weeps, heartbroken over Milly’s impending death. A few days later, Milly has another appointment with Sir Luke. She tells him she intends to travel to Venice with Susan, Kate, and Maud. He tells her he will meet her in Venice in a few weeks when he travels there with his niece. Milly rents an enormous palazzo in Venice. One afternoon, while the others are out and Milly is home alone, Lord Mark arrives. He proposes to Milly, but she declines the offer. He then tells her that Kate and Densher are secretly in love. Milly does not believe him. As Lord Mark is leaving, Densher arrives at the palazzo.

In Book Eighth, Densher arrives in Venice. He spends every day at the palazzo. One afternoon, while on a walk with Kate, they discuss their circumstances. Kate encourages Densher to continue to court Milly. She reports that she herself has not definitively turned down Lord Mark’s offer of marriage. Densher grows jealous and asks Kate to make a display of her affection for him. He asks her to visit him in his rooms alone, but they are interrupted before she can respond. That evening, Milly hosts a party at the palazzo for Sir Luke, who has arrived. At the party, Densher presses Kate about her plans for them. Kate explains she intends for Densher to marry Milly so he can inherit her fortune when she dies, enabling Kate and Densher to marry and be comfortably wealthy. Densher asks for something in exchange for agreeing to this scheme, and Kate agrees to go to his rooms alone one night.

Book Ninth opens after Densher and Kate have consummated their relationship. Kate and Maud have since returned to London, leaving Densher alone in Venice with Milly and Susan. Densher continues to visit Milly, and he feels increasingly affectionate toward her. One day, Densher is surprised when he’s refused entry to the palazzo. Walking around the city that afternoon, he notices Lord Mark and believes he’s responsible for Densher’s inability to enter the palazzo. Three days later, Susan arrives at Densher’s door. She tells him that Milly’s health has taken a turn for the worse since Lord Mark’s visit. During his visit, Lord Mark told Milly that Densher and Kate were secretly engaged. Susan encourages Densher to deny the charge to Milly to help her keep her spirits up, but Densher refuses to lie to Milly. Soon after, Sir Luke Strett arrives in Venice. Densher spends time with Sir Luke during his visit, but he does not ask about Milly’s health. On the day he leaves, Sir Luke tells Densher to go see Milly one last time.

Book Tenth opens a few weeks later. Densher has returned to London. He goes to Maud’s for tea. Kate tells Densher that Milly is still alive but that she will die soon. She suspects that even though Densher did not marry Milly, her scheme was successful. A few weeks later, Densher asks Kate once again to marry him, but she tells him they must continue to wait. On Christmas Day, Densher goes to Sir Luke’s house for news of Milly. He runs into Maud, who tells him that Milly has died. She also tells him that Kate has gone to live with her sister and father. Densher goes to see Kate at her sister’s house. He shows her a letter he received from Milly. They intuit that Milly has likely left Densher some of her fortune in her will. Densher gives the letter to Kate as a token of his dedication to her. Kate throws the letter into the fire. Two months later, Densher receives a packet of papers from a New York law firm detailing his inheritance. He sends it to Kate. That afternoon, he gives her a choice: give up the inheritance and marry him without any money to show she truly loves him, or take the money and give up the marriage. The novel ends without revealing Kate’s decision.