Cirrus@Austlit

'Bridges Across the Seine at Asnières is the story of the passionate connection between Madame Marion Arnaud and her brother Marcel Jarvel. As children growing up in an austere household in Brittany, they escaped their hardship by sneaking away together to enjoy the fields and woods surrounding their home village as well as the local circus. Their passion for one another led their parents to try to keep them apart, even to the point of arranging a marriage for their daughter with a distant, well-off cousin in Paris. The siblings, however, could not be separated for long, despite repeated threats from their parents and Madame Arnaud's husband. When Madame learns that her brother really needs her, she fashions an unusual plot to convince her mean-spirited husband to allow her to care for him. A touching story of love between a brother and sister that survived many difficulties.' (Publication summary)

'Blossoming Almond Branch in a Glass with a Book is the charming story of Marc Henry, separated from the privileged but demanding life of his father, and Madame Fleur, who operates a boarding house to provide for herself and her son after the death of her husband in the Franco-Prussian War. Inspired by the branch of almond blossoms in a glass that sits on a table in the boarding house, Henry examines his life, his future, and the captivating allure of Madame as she struggles with the difficulties of putting her husband to rest. Inspired by the painting by Vincent Van Gogh, Australian writer Greg Bogaerts tells this story with his usual brilliant development of character and masterful development of plot, further enriched with often-overlooked but enthralling historical snippets about old France.' (Publication summary)

'Avenue of Poplars in Autumn is the tragic story of Marcel Saint Cloud, a country farmer, who marries Madame Rosemary Vert, a widow used to rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy whose former husband left her with a daughter as well as numerous debts and no money to pay them. The couple manage to overcome many initial difficulties and fall madly in love. Saint Cloud becomes a devoted and adoring husband, and Madame becomes equally as devoted as well as a happy manager of the domestic matters of the farm. Numerous troubles befall them, which Saint Cloud recalls as he strolls through the avenue of poplars that lead to his farmhouse.' (Publication summary)