The Princesse de Cleves - Lafayette, Madame de

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Résumé :
First published anonymously in 1678, Madame de Lafayette is generally believed to be the author behind The Princess of Cleves. Set between October 1558 and November 1559 at the royal court of Henry II of France, the novel is concerned with Mademoiselle de Chartres, a sheltered heiress who is brought to the court by her mother to find her a proper husband. This soon to be princess will find herself caught between her duty as a wife and her untimely love for another man. The Princess of Cleves is one of the great classics of French literature, known for its remarkable historical accuracy. The novel which is not only highly evocative of a past era marked a major turning point in world literature. Up to then novels had been highly romanticized whereas The Princess of Cleves is noted for having a highly realistic plot with deeply introspective characters. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper....

Biographie:
Madame de Lafayette, born Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne in 1634, was a pioneering French writer best known for her groundbreaking work The Princess of Cleves, often hailed as one of the first psychological novels in Western literature. Born into a family of minor nobility in Paris, she received an exceptional education for a woman of her time, which included exposure to classical literature, history, and the intellectual salons of Paris. This background significantly influenced her writing, which combined a deep understanding of human emotions with a keen insight into the social and political intricacies of her era. Madame de Lafayette's work is marked by its subtle analysis of the complexities of love, duty, and morality, particularly within the rigid structures of 17th-century French society. Her portrayal of women as intelligent, morally complex individuals was innovative and reflected her nuanced view of the human condition. The Princess of Cleves (1678), her most famous work, remains a cornerstone of French literature, celebrated for its sophisticated narrative and psychological depth. Lafayette's influence extends beyond her own writings, as she helped shape the development of the modern novel, blending historical events with fictional narratives to explore the inner lives of her characters....