Sainte-Marie-des-Fleurs: Roman

A reflective narrator traces a sequence of chance encounters with a young woman while traveling through Italian cities, recounting moments in Florence, on the Lido, and aboard gondolas. The narrative weaves vivid travel description and sensory detail with close psychological observation, documenting growing devotion, melancholy, and the inner urgency of passionate feeling. Episodes alternate between public scenes—sunset over the lagoon, street life, musical evenings—and intimate introspection about love, truthfulness of emotion, and the transformative power of excessive passion. The work blends episodic romance with lyrical meditations on human tenderness, longing, and the search for authenticity.