Madame du Deffand (1696-1780) was a minor French aristocrat who, bored by her marriage, threw herself into scandalous relationships with leading noblemen, including the French Regent. She later re-invented herself as a highly successful salonniere, her salon being frequented by leading thinkers of the day. She also maintained very witty, perceptive correspondences with Voltaire (whose letters back are full expositions of his philosophy) and later with Horace Walpole with whom she fell deeply in love, much to his shock.

Only biography of this extraordinary woman, a 'Lady Bracknell in blue stockings' Lively portrait of decadent French society Ideal Christmas Gift

About the Author
A professor of French Literature at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy, Benedetta Craveri was born in Rome and now lives partly in Brussels. (Her husband is a French amabassador to NATO). A frequent contributor to the NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS


Book Information
ISBN 9781870015790
Author Benedetta Craveri
Format Paperback
Page Count 488
Imprint Peter Halban Publishers Ltd
Publisher Peter Halban Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 610g
Dimensions(mm) 139mm * 214mm * 39mm