The Ink-Stain (Tache d'encre) — Volume 3

"The Ink-Stain (Tache d'encre) — Volume 3" by René Bazin is a novel set in the late 1800s that tells the tale of Fabien Mouillard as he navigates his feelings for Jeanne Charnot while attempting to fix a strained relationship with his uncle, all amid complicated family dynamics and societal pressures. After a trip to Milan, Fabien returns to Paris, torn between professing his love for Jeanne and heeding his friend's advice to focus on his life, finding himself caught between memories of the past and the looming decision of proposing marriage, setting the stage for a story filled with introspection, emotional development, and the difficulties of love in society.