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Indiana is a novel written by George Sand in 1831. It is a realist, idealist, and romantic novel that deals with the problems of marriage in post Napoleon France. In the story an attractive, young Creole from Reunion Island named Indiana marries a much older man named Colonel Delmare, who had been a Lieutenant in Napoleon's army, and who was a successful industrialist. Indiana does not love him, and searches for someone who will love her fully and passionately. She believes she has found this person in the form of her neighbour, Raymon de Ramiere. However (SPOILERS) it later transpires that he was already engaged in an affair with Indiana's maid, Noun, who is pregnant, and as a consequence, drowns herself. Indiana and her husband move back to Bourbon Island, but Indiana decides, upon receiving a letter from Raymon, to leave and go back to him. After her long voyage she sneaks into Raymon's house only to discover that he has married in her absence. Her devoted and strong cousin, Ralph, comes to take her back to the island, but her husband has died. On their voyage, Indiana begins to see Ralph's true self and grows to love him. They decide to commit suicide together by jumping into a waterfall, and just before they do so, they declare their love for one another and believe they will be married in Heaven. However, after what seems to be the end of the narrative comes a letter, entitled Conclusion. It is the account of an unnamed young man who discovered Ralph and Indiana living together in a secluded cave, Ralph claiming that their guardian angel prevented them from leaping to their deaths. This conclusion has been subject to much scrutiny, and could be read in many different ways.
