After Prigioniero di una stanza a Venezia, Arrigo Cipriani brings us once again the world – in this case love and associated perils and pitfalls – seen through the windows of Harry’s Bar. PG, the protagonist of this novella, had never taken himself very seriously, and perhaps for this reason had always preferred to look on the bright side of life. And now, on the verge of old age, he is pondering that seemingly supernatural force responsible for making the world go round: women. And the particular woman in question? Marie – young, long black hair framing a doll’s face, eyes smouldering, with an aristocratic air and a seductive confidence when she walks. Marie is flighty, picking up new lovers only to tire of them the next day; she seems always to be living in a different place (Argentina, New York, Venice) and never lacks for a companion to see to her needs. And, like so many before him, PG falls in love. Hopelessly, incapably, head over heels.