[1] Set in Sydney and London in the 1930s, the novel tells the story of Teresa Hawkins and her search for the ideal of love.

Taken under the wing of an older man, James Quick, she discovers a renewed sense of love and compassion.

Her supposed realism, in contrast to her previous fantasy, is unselective and generally without significance.

Ramson compared it to Martin Boyd's novel Lucinda Brayford, also re-issued at that time: "For Love Alone is as different in style as it is possible to be, feminine, intuitive, almost claustrophobic in its intensity and introspectiveness, masterful rather than masterly in its assurance.

The adaptation was written and directed by Stephen Wallace, and featured Helen Buday, Sam Neill, and Hugo Weaving.