Passion in Florence

Florence. A magnificent house in the hills sets the scene for a dream that will suddenly turn into a nightmare...
In this haven of tranquility, the violent emotions of the past are momentarily eclipsed, and Mary Panton can calmly face the prospects of her second marriage to Sir Edgar Swift — whom she admires and respects, but does not love.
A simple act of compassion, the desire to bring some beauty to the troubled and unhappy life of a young refugee, will, however, initiate a nightmare of violence that will destroy Mary's fragile serenity. Intuitively, she will trust in the help and understanding of Rowley Flint, a stranger of more than dubious reputation. And with him, she will understand that rejecting love, even with all its myriad risks, is to reject life itself.

Written with the simplicity of great literary works, *Passion in Florence* is a perfect example of Somerset Maugham's genius.