The selective affinities, the bonds that connect certain chemical elements, are transferred by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to the enchanting yet terrifying field of human relationships, providing both the title and the thematic foundation for this very important novel from the mature creative period of the author.

The arrival of a young relative and a family friend at the mansion of a married couple will act as a catalyst on the lives, feelings, and the very character of the four protagonists of the story.

The influence of love will unleash tendencies and forces that have preexisted within them, perhaps without them even realizing it, giving flesh and bones to hidden sides of their personalities, leading them to elevation, destruction, or whatever else is termed the fate they choose by their own volition.

The transfer of the laws of chemistry governs Goethe's novel, which is entirely a concise picture of the ideological artistic influences that the author has received, without, however, aligning with any specific movement.

The restless and lively spirit touches, at almost sixty years old, the peak of his maturity and creativity.