"Expiation" by Dora Melegari is a novel written in the late 19th century. It revolves around themes of love, isolation, and the struggle between personal desire and moral obligation. The story follows Thérèse, a woman who navigates her sorrowful past and strained familial relationships, particularly with her father, and her new life at her cousin Renée's home, where her emotional journey unfolds. The beginning of the novel introduces us to Thérèse as she grapples with the aftermath of her father's death and her impending departure from her childhood home. Having lost her family ties and feeling isolated, she accepts Renée’s invitation to stay at her château. Here, Thérèse experiences a complex emotional landscape, characterized by lingering feelings of loneliness and regret over her family's tragic history. Thérèse observes Renée's youthful innocence and their contrasting life experiences, while Renée's growing friendship with her husband Robert hints at potential romantic entanglements that may complicate their lives. As the narrative progresses, the interplay between love, duty, and social norms begins to take shape, laying the foundation for the themes that will be explored throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
