In a museum far from home, a lawyer stumbles across a painting of a
woman he once knew, Irene. Decades before, he had become entangled in
her affairs when he was called on to settle a dispute between her
husband, who had commissioned the portrait, and the painter of the
work--who was also her lover. When, ultimately, the lawyer fell in love
with her himself and risked everything for her, she mysteriously
disappeared--along with the painting.
Now, face to face with the portrait once again, the lawyer must
reconcile his past and present selves. When he eventually locates Irene,
he is forced to confront the truth of his love--and the reality that his
life has been irrevocably changed. A poignant, intricately crafted novel
of obsession, creativity, and love, this is Bernhard Schlink at his
peak.