The story takes place during the French Revolution and concerns Thérèse, who is torn between duty and affection, between her husband André Thorel, a Girondist, and her lover, the nobleman Armand de Clerval.
Den foregår under den franske revolution og handler om Thérèse, der er splittet mellem pligt og kærlighed, mellem sin mand André Thorel, en girondiner, og sin elsker, adelsmanden Armand de Clerval.