Le parfum des îles Borromées

by René Boylesve

"Le parfum des îles Borromées" by René Boylesve is a novel published in 1898. Set in September at Lake Maggiore's Hotel Stresa, the story follows Gabriel Dompierre as he experiences an intense romance with the beautiful Luisa Belvidera. Their passionate affair faces complications when her husband arrives. Meanwhile, other hotel guests navigate their own romantic entanglements, including an English artist devoted to Schopenhauer's philosophy and a flower merchant consumed by unrequited love. As summer ends, the vacationers depart, leaving behind memories of passion and heartbreak.