A Tragic Idyl

A masterpiece of psychological realism, secret romance, and social ambition set against the sparkling backdrop of Monte Carlo.
In A Tragic Idyl (Une idylle tragique), acclaimed French author and Académie française member Paul Bourget weaves a compelling tale of passion, betrayal, and high-society intrigue.
Set amid the lavish gambling halls and opulent villas of the Riviera, the narrative follows a web of interconnected lives bound by hidden desires and societal expectations. At its core is a clandestine marriage between a wealthy widow and a noble viscount, unfolding alongside unrequited love and secret longings that threaten to tear their refined world apart.