'De Botton is a national treasure' - Susan Hill, author of The Woman in BlackA unique love story and a classic work of philosophy, rooted in the mysterious workings of the human heart and mind.Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved.A man and woman on a flight from Paris to London, and so begins their love story. From first kiss to first argument, infatuation to heartbreak, Alain de Botton illuminates each stage of their relationship with a clarity both startling and tender.With the verve of a novelist and the insight of a philosopher, Essays in Love unveils the mysteries of the human heart. It is essential reading for anyone seeking instruction in the art of love.Part of the Picador Collection, a series celebrating fifty years of Picador books and showcasing the best of modern literature.'This is no light romance but a sort of "When Harry Met Sally meets Roland Barthes". . . A novel of wit and insight; whatever the state of your love life, it will make entertaining and sometimes painful, sometimes profitable reading' – Time Out