The story is told through a series of removable letters and postcards between the two main characters and is intended for an adult audience,[1] as some sources describe the artwork as disturbing.

However, his growing uncertainty as to Sabine's true nature and the changes her presence has caused in his life develop into fear and he ends up rejecting her offer for him to come see her in person.

In the second volume Sabine moves to Griffin's house in London while he wanders through Europe, North Africa, and Asia, backwards through layers of ancient civilizations — and of himself.

New obstacles (including a sinister intruder) test the tenacity of their passion, and in each letter or postcard, painting and prose are even more richly intertwined.

Griffin and Sabine inspired the 1994 parody, Sheldon and Mrs. Levine, An Excruciating Correspondence by Sam Bobrick and Julie Stein, a set of letters exchanged between a man and his domineering Jewish mother.