The highly anticipated and captivating second novel by Alain de Botton, which follows the beautifully complex trajectory of a romantic relationship, from the internationally successful author of "The Course of Love" and "How Proust Can Change Your Life." We all know the intoxication and excitement of the early stages of love. But what comes next?

In Edinburgh, two people, Rabih and Kirsten, fall in love. They marry, have children – but there is no long-term relationship that simply adheres to "and they lived happily ever after." "The Course of Love" is a novel that explores what happens after the birth of love, what is needed to sustain it, and what happens to the initial ideals under the pressure of ordinary existence.

With philosophical depth and psychological insight, Alain de Botton shows that our romantic dreams may ultimately harm us severely – and he explores possible alternatives. The conclusion, as the characters gradually discover, is that love is not "an enthusiasm" but rather a "skill" that we acquire gradually and often painfully...