Julian Barnes

On January 31, 1857, the French writer Gustave Flaubert (1821-80) took his place in the dock for contempt of public morality and religion. The accused, the real one, is, through him, Emma Bovary, heroine with a thousand faces and a thousand desires, guilty without doubt of an unforgivable desire to live.

런던에서 빈티지 카메라 상점을 운영하는 ‘토니’ 어느 날, 그에게 한 통의 편지가 도착한다 그 안에는 잊고 지냈던 첫사랑 ‘베로니카’의 어머니의 부고가 담겨있었고 ‘토니’는 유언장에 언급된 일기장을 받기 위해 ‘베로니카’를 수소문 하기 시작한다 우여곡절 끝에 운명적으로 재회하게 된 두 사람 ‘베로니카’는 또 다른 편지 한 통을 ‘토니’에게 건네고 자신의 기억과 전혀 다른 과거를 마주한 ‘토니’는 혼란에 빠지는데..

After ten years absence Toni, Chris's best friend, suddenly reappears in London to bring chaos and doubt into Chris's calm, tranquil, slightly boring, predictable life. Chris starts to remember his carefree youth as a photographer in Paris when he lived with and enjoyed a torrid affair with Annick. It was also in Paris that he first met and fell in love with Marion. The temptations and pressure exerted on Chris by Toni to return to their former carefree life of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll soon starts to have an impact on Chris's marriage. He starts to question his values, his lifestyle choices and his relationship with Marion and even suspects her of starting an affair with Toni whom she dislikes! Eventually circumstances come to a head and Chris is forced to decide whether to follow Toni back to the hedonistic, irresponsible life of his youth or face the harsh realities of the present and stay with Marion.

A triangle: love, obsession, and choice. Pierre, a ladies' man who has little cash and no fixed residence, describes his best friend Benoît as the world's oldest 32-year-old. The shy, well-employed Benoît's life changes when he answers the personal ad of Marie, a 25-year-old who restores paintings. He's attracted to her and she likes his steady calm and his honest attention. They're soon a couple, and they include Pierre in their dinners, outings, and trips. What will happen when Pierre realizes that he too is in love with Marie?