The Princess of Cleves by Madame de La Fayette

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Author La Fayette, Madame de (Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne), 1634-1693
Title The Princess of Cleves
Note Reading ease score: 38.7 (College-level). Difficult to read.
Summary "The Princess of Cleves" by Madame de Lafayette is a historical novel written during the early 17th century. The story is set in the opulent court of Henry II of France and delves into the complex emotions and societal pressures faced by the characters, particularly the young heroine, Mademoiselle de Chartres, who later becomes the Princess of Cleves. The narrative explores themes of love, honor, duty, and the intrigues of court life against a richly painted backdrop of French nobility. At the start of the novel, the reader is introduced to the grandeur of the French court, described with vivid detail, and the characters who inhabit it, including the alluring Duchess of Valentinois and various princes and nobles vying for power and affection. Mademoiselle de Chartres, a striking beauty raised with a strong moral grounding by her mother, enters the court, capturing the attention of Prince Cleves. Their initial encounter is filled with mutual admiration, marking the beginning of her transformative journey through love and societal expectations. As Mademoiselle de Chartres navigates her feelings for Prince Cleves and the charismatic Duke de Nemours, the opening chapters set the stage for a tale of emotional depth, destined conflicts, and the perils of courtly ambition, all intertwined with the essence of a woman's virtue and agency. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject Historical fiction
Subject Psychological fiction
Subject Love stories
Subject Married women -- Fiction
Subject Nobility -- Fiction
Subject France -- History -- 16th century -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 467
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 1, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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