In this final novel in Colette's famous series it is Claudine's friend Annie who tells the story in the form of a private diary. Claudine is happily settled with her adored husband Renaud, spending her time giving wide and worldly advice to despairing Annie whose life with the boring and dominating Alain is set to dramatically change. From Paris the scene moves across France in the houses of the wealthy desperately trying to salvage their health and discovering that too much opera can be very dull indeed. Through Colette's incredible series of novels Claudine emerges as a portrait of an intelligent, modern woman whose life is always honest, passionate and intensely moving.