Written in the form of a novel, the book deals with the life and love of Voltaire and his mistress, scientist Émilie du Châtelet.

The story was written with the aid of historic letters of correspondence between Émilie and Voltaire, as well as between several other prominent figures of the Enlightenment.

The full bibliographic citation of the book in question is: The novel is set in the period of development in Western Europe known as the Age of Enlightenment.

[citation needed] This is emphasized by the manner in which du Châtelet's scientific breakthroughs and discoveries are passed off as unimportant, simply because of her gender.

[citation needed] The book starts with a "flash forward" in which Émilie du Châtelet is briefly introduced.