Part of La Comédie Humaine, book 13
First published 2009
Rodolphe Nathan finds himself trapped by the persistent romantic pursuits of women he wishes to avoid. The young Parisian devises what seems like a perfect solution: he creates an imaginary mistress, complete with detailed stories about their passionate relationship. This fictional woman becomes his shield against unwanted attention and social obligations. Nathan spins elaborate tales about his mysterious lover, describing her beauty, her demands, and their secret meetings. His deception works too well. The invented romance takes on a life of its own, drawing Nathan deeper into a web of lies that grows more complex with each telling. What began as a simple escape becomes a prison of his own making. Nathan discovers that living with an imaginary love can be more complicated than dealing with real relationships. The false passion he created to protect his freedom threatens to destroy the authentic connections he truly desires.
Genres: fiction, romance, 20th-century, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: forbidden-love, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Paris
Period: 19th Century
62 pages · Paperback · Dodo Pr