Paula Monti; or, The Hôtel Lambert

"Paula Monti; or, The Hôtel Lambert" by Eugène Sue is a novel set in 1837 Paris, where love and social status become tangled. Readers are introduced to the elusive Madame de Hansfeld and the men drawn to her beauty, like M. de Morville and M. de Brévannes. Secrets and unspoken desires fill these complex relationships. The story starts at the Opera-ball, where people whisper about the princess and her absent husband. M. de Morville, while drawn to the princess, keeps his distance due to a personal promise and a secret. Readers become involved into a world of hidden feelings, jealousy, and the risks of intrigue within high society, making readers want to know more about these complicated characters.