1811: the apex of Napoleon's empire. Two French travellers meet en route to Italy - he playing truant from his official responsibilities, she bent on escaping her empty life. Initially hostile, they discover unexpected affinities when their paths cross again. She opens his mind to the possibility of a woman as equal and friend; he urges her to defy convention and pursue her heart's desire. The novel explores the impact of Italy's landscapes and culture on two very different personalities - the one torn between ambition and freedom, the other seeking a new life but still enmeshed in the past. Their inner conflicts are echoed among the Italians they encounter, some supporting others resisting Napoleon's attempt to modernize their backward land. Based on episodes in the youth of the French writer Stendhal, the novel uses his Italian diary as the frame, interweaving it with fictional events and characters to create a nuanced portrayal of the Napoleonic era.