Paul Bailey

Set in Paris's demi-monde at the beginning of the twentieth century, Chéri is a passionate story of devotion, desire and the passage of time. Fred Peloux, affectionately nicknamed Chéri, is handsome and spoiled. Until now he's lived a life of hedonistic luxury, and has been indulged in his every desire. He is newly married to the young and beautiful Edmée, and according to Parisian society, he has everything a man could dream of.
But the only woman he can think about is his lover, Léa de Lonval, a beautiful, ageing courtesan who has stolen his heart. Full of wit, drama and intensity, Chéri is a groundbreaking novel that grapples with radical ideas about sexuality and ageing.