The Enchanted Soul by Romain Rolland. Short summary

5 seconds

Anette Riviere is a single mother raising a child conceived out of wedlock alone. She works as a typist, a governess, a secretary, a cashier. She changes professions easily, as well as men.

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Anette Riviere grew up in a wealthy family. Attractive, intelligent, and self-assured, she went about her life easily. The girl was courted by a successful lawyer Roger Brissot, but after a night with a man, Anette realized that she did not want to marry him. After the birth of an illegitimate son, all society turned its back on her.

Then the girl had an affair with a former university friend Julien Davy, with a young doctor Philippe Villar, then there is a German painter Franz. In the end, Anette gives up personal happiness for the son Marc.

The First World War began. Anette was very afraid that the grown-up Mark would be taken away to fight. Mark learns who his father is. Soon the young man meets a girl, Asya, they marry and Anetta has a grandson.

Mark, who has joined the fight against fascism, dies. Asya remarries, leaving her mother-in-law with a grandson. Anetta takes care of «her chicks»-her grandson, her son’s friend, her sister, and the daughter of an old friend. But when Silvio dies, the woman loses her thirst for life.