"Madame de Mauves" is an early novella by Henry James, published in 1874. It tells the story of Euphemia, a wealthy American heiress who marries the Comte de Mauves, captivated by the romance of a European aristocratic title. The marriage proves bitterly disappointing: her husband is cold, cynical, and unfaithful, having wed her chiefly for her fortune. Longmore, an admiring American traveler, falls in love with Euphemia and urges her to leave her loveless marriage, yet she stubbornly clings to ideals of duty and fidelity. The novella explores James's enduring themes—the clash between American idealism and European moral decay, the sacredness of marriage vows, and the tragic cost of unwavering principle.
