
A lyrical epistolary unfolds between two lovers, Anna and Claude, whose letters blur the line between waking life and reverie. Anna’s exuberant declarations of happiness swirl with whimsical images of peonies lifted by wind, while Claude’s replies probe the fragility of joy and the elusive nature of desire. Their exchange feels like a delicate dance of words, each line a brushstroke that paints a world where emotions are both celebrated and questioned.
The novel invites listeners into a dream‑like interior, where ordinary objects—a shining pebble, a rose thicket—become symbols of longing and contentment. Through poetic banter and philosophical musings, the story explores how we count our sensations, how fleeting pleasures shape our sense of self, and whether true happiness can ever be captured. It is a gentle, introspective journey that lingers long after the final page turns.
Language
fr
Duration
~3 hours (196K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Clarity, Laurent Vogel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2020-03-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1858–1915
A leading voice of the French Symbolist movement, he wrote with sharp intelligence about literature, language, and desire. His essays, poems, and fiction helped shape the literary atmosphere of fin-de-siècle Paris.
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