Unattainable love

Although the subject of these novellas is love it is not the happy-ending romantic love expected in love stories. The main relationships in the stories are flawed and ill-fated ending in unrequited and unattainable love for all the characters. The relationship between the two main characters, Cheri and Lea, is seemingly the most fulfilling but ultimately is the most frustrating. From the very beginning, a love affair between Cheri and Lea is not sanctioned both because of Lea's role as courtesan to the young Cheri but also her role in society which would not condone a marriage between the two. Even when they both realize that they love each other, Cheri is fated to an arranged marriage to a young girl he barely knows. Tragically, Lea's career allows her to have no long-term love, and sadly she admits that the boy, Cheri, was the true love of...