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In the elegant salons of early‑twentieth‑century Paris, a poised, aristocratic woman prepares a weekend retreat at her country pavilion. She pens a warm invitation to a close circle of friends—philosophers, painters, novelists, diplomats—hoping their arrival will bring lively conversation and a touch of romance to her otherwise quiet life. Her refined manners and striking presence, from her glossy blond hair to the graceful line of her hands, make her an unforgettable host.
Yet beneath the polished surface, a sudden revelation shatters her composure: a love letter exposing her husband’s affair with an older chanteuse lands in her lap, and the shock sends her heart racing. The narrative follows her fragile attempt to maintain dignity while wrestling with jealousy, betrayal, and the fear of social scandal. As she reaches out to her trusted aunt for counsel, the story unfolds as a witty, bittersweet exploration of love’s caprices and the fragile ties that bind high society.
Language
fr
Duration
~4 hours (259K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-12-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1854–1915
A French novelist and woman of letters from Belle Époque Paris, she wrote emotionally sharp fiction that explored love, uncertainty, and social life. Publishing under several names, she built a body of work that still survives in libraries and digital archives today.
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