A Beautiful Young Wife

Edward Landauer, a brilliant microbiologist in his forties, meets a beautiful young woman.

She is the love of his life and when the two marry in France, Edward is the happiest man in the world. Ruth Walta appears to represent a victory over time, but even she cannot stop him growing older.

And before long, their marriage descends into a clash between her idealism and his realism. Edward's research relies on animal testing, whereas Ruth is troubled by the animals' fear and confusion.

It takes the couple a long time to conceive and it is not until they have started to have sex purely because she wants a child that Ruth finally falls pregnant. After the birth of his son, the happiness, 'delicate like filigree' turns to despair, as the baby won't stop crying.

The sleepless nights cause an even greater rift between Edward and Ruth. Ruth distances herself and banishes him from her bed, while Edward no longer recognises the woman he fell in love with.

Constantly aware of his decline, Edward tries to find a new balance in the arms of another young woman. Slowly but surely, life as he knew it slips through his fingers and he learns the meaning of real pain, true suffering.