Flames

"Flames" by Robert Hichens is a story that follows a young, virtuous man named Valentine Cresswell as he navigates the complex world of late 19th-century London. Valentine, with his almost saint-like character, struggles to understand the desires that drive those around him, finding himself detached and somewhat isolated in his virtue. The story explores big ideas like the struggle between good and evil, temptation, and what it means to truly want something as it follows Valentine's friendship with the very different Julian Addison, leading to philosophical discussions and a soul-swapping experiment as the two men try to understand each other's contrasting natures as the story progresses.