This beautiful, powerful short novel is told in first person by Maurice Bendrix, a writer who has had an intense affair with Sarah, the wife of a civil servant. In the beginning, we know that she is the one who has broken off the affair, and Bendrix is filled with a passionate hatred for her and is unable to move on.

I won't expose the entire plot here, but obviously, there is an intriguing reason why Sarah has stopped seeing Bendrix, which he will discover. How Sarah's character is dawn, from the impressions of a few men around her and her mother, is fascinating and mysterious. Sarah is both well known and an enigma.

Bendrix expresses anguish and despair with an urgency that is palpable. The jealousy, suspicion, and spiteful thoughts are put down eloquently, as are his feelings of love for Sarah at other times. These feelings, this affair, is miserable and wonderful.

This is a very thought provoking novel, both because of the nature of the affair and the ending.

I would recommend it very highly.