Cover of The Illusionist

The Illusionist

by Francoise Mallet-Joris · 1951

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Bored and lonely, 15-year-old Helene decides to pay a visit to her father's mistress. Within days, she is captivated by Tamara, a Russian emigre whose arts of enchantment include lingering kisses, sudden dismissals, and savage, rapturous reunions. As long as she submits to Tamara, Helene is permitted to stay near her: reading forbidden novels, meeting Tamara's bohemian friends, and learning more 'refinements of depravity' than the gossiping matrons of her provincial French town could imagine existed.

Genre
lesbianlesbianMore like thisLess of thisLGBTLGBTMore like thisLess of thisgaygayMore like thisLess of thishistorical fictionhistorical fictionMore like thisLess of this
Themes
LGBTLGBTMore like thisLess of thiswomenwomenMore like thisLess of this
Setting
FranceFranceMore like thisLess of this
Audience
young adult
Length
medium · 264 pages

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