The Desert of Love Book

Maria Cross--a woman who has decided to act more in tune with her desires than her 'reputation'--comes to represent all the unattainable illusion of first love to an adolescent boy. At the same time, she tempts the boy's father, a respected doctor, to recklessly abandon his career on one last, desperate fling of sensuality. The sheer force of this woman's personality leaves its indelible mark on both people. Years later, father and son encounter Maria again and discern her dominant character in a new light. Now, far from the unfulfilling passions of those troubled times, a mysterious sentiment of reconciliation and respect takes hold

The Nobel laureate here tells the story of a father and son in conflict over their love for the same woman. Mauriac's flair for unraveling psychological motives when complicated by matters of conscience makes this one of his most accomplished works.