Annette and Sylvie: Being Volume One of The Soul Enchanted

"Annette and Sylvie: Being Volume One of The Soul Enchanted" by Romain Rolland is a novel written in the early 20th century. The work explores themes of love, grief, and the complexities of familial relationships, centering around two sisters, Annette and Sylvie, as they navigate their intertwined lives after the loss of their father. The narrative delves into Annette's mourning and the realization of her father's hidden relationships, while also highlighting the awakening bond between the sisters. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Annette Rivière, who is reflecting on her life and the recent loss of her father, Raoul. As she grapples with her sadness, memories of her father's complex nature and their close relationship emerge. Annette's solitude is interrupted when she discovers letters revealing that her father had a secret family, including a sister named Sylvie, which ignites a deep-seated jealousy and curiosity within her. This catalyst propels Annette to seek out Sylvie, leading to a series of emotional encounters where both sisters confront their pasts, their rivalry, and a budding affection that promises new beginnings amidst their shared grief. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Romain Rolland was a French dramatist, novelist, essayist, art historian and mystic who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915 "as a tribute to the lofty idealism of his literary production and to the sympathy and love of truth with which he has described different types of human beings".