"She concealed her fear, controlled herself bravely and, beginning her life of duplicity, resignation, base and subtle diplomacy, she leant over and humbly kissed the monstrous hand."

The colours and scents of the Parisian world provide the backdrop to Colette's subtle and ruthless observations on the loss of childhood magic, the insecurity of solitude and the stresses and strains between husbands, wives, lovers and mistresses.  With their emphasis on the unexpected, telling detail, the scenes these short stories invite us to witness include the blooming of one dutiful wife under the furtive touch of a lover and the immodest innocence restored to another by a simple mask and concealing costume. Reverberating with wit and psychological acuity, The Other Woman is a supreme example of Colette's ironic understanding of human beings at their most intense and vulnerable moments.