The Wings of the Dove', considered to be one of Henry James's great masterpieces, is the story of Milly Theale, an American Heiress with a serious illness. The narrative of the work is chiefly concerned with Milly's struggle to 'achieve, however briefly and brokenly, the sense of having lived' and the impact that struggle has on those around her. A semi-biographical tale of James's own cousin, Minny Temple, 'The Wings of the Dove' is a classic and compelling work of American literature.