A young noblewoman struggles to maintain her virtue and personal integrity while navigating the rigid social expectations and intense romantic pressures of the 16th-century French royal court. The protagonist, the Princesse de Clèves, finds herself caught between a dutiful marriage and an overwhelming, illicit attraction to the Duc de Nemours. Her internal conflict is exacerbated by the court's atmosphere of surveillance, gossip, and moral ambiguity. The narrative, presented in a restrained and analytical prose style, examines the psychological toll of suppressing desire in a world where reputation is the primary currency of survival.

Readers and critics frequently identify this work as a foundational text that shifted the novel toward psychological realism. Discussion often centers on the protagonist's decision to confess her feelings to her husband, an act that remains a subject of intense debate regarding its necessity and its impact on the plot. Many highlight the author's ability to maintain a detached, clinical tone while exploring complex emotional states. The work is widely recognized for its influence on the development of the modern novel, particularly in its focus on internal character development over external adventure. Scholars often emphasize how the text reflects the social constraints of the 17th-century French aristocracy.