The Absent Heart

In this beguiling account of a three-way relationship, Ali Bacon unveils the woman who had a profound influence on one of the greatest writers of his age, Robert Louis Stevenson. In 1870, Frances Sitwell, beautiful, intelligent and trapped in an abusive marriage, is grateful for the chaste affection offered by rising literary star, Sidney Colvin. They make a perfect couple until the young Robert Louis Stevenson bursts into their lives to captivate them with his wild, mercurial spirit and startlingly original talent. Louis immediately falls in love with Frances. As her feelings for Sidney cool, and Louis's entreaties become irresistible, she encourages him to express his feelings in letters, which he does with unconcealed passion. With Louis's death, these emotional outpourings, written for Frances's eyes only, fall into Sidney's hands. His subsequent anger takes Frances by surprise and she begins to question the nature of his feelings for Louis. As friendship, love and desire are put to the test, can Frances find the courage to secure her future happiness as well as her place in history?