The Red Lily — Volume 01

by Anatole France

"The Red Lily — Volume 01" by Anatole France is a novel published in 1894. It tells the story of Thérèse Martin-Bellème, a beautiful young countess trapped in a loveless marriage to an elderly government minister. She embarks on affairs with two men: Robert Le Menil, whose devotion she accepts without true love, and Dechartre, a sculptor who awakens genuine passion. When jealousy and past secrets surface, Thérèse must confront whether love can survive deception and whether her happiness can endure.