The Princess of Cleves

London, G. Routledge & Sons; New York, E.P. Dutton & Co, 1925. 3 preliminary leaves, 286, [1] pages 20 cm. At head of title: Mme. de La Fayette./ Supposed to have been written with the assistance of Segrais and the Duke de La Rochefoucauld./ "This version has been made from the first French edition, and without omissions."--Introduction./ "Bibliographical note": pages 27-28. Uncommon in jacket. Broadway translations; Variation: Broadway translations. [series].

Fiction, French. Class Descriptors: LC: PQ1805.L5; Dewey: 843.4 Responsibility: translated by H. Ashton ... with an introduction. § Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne, Comtesse de La Fayette (1634-1693), more commonly known as Madame de La Fayette, was a French author and a prominent figure in the literary salons of 17th-century France. She was born in Paris on March 18, 1634, and died there on May 25, 1693. Madame de La Fayette is best known for her novel "La Princesse de Clèves" (1678), which is often considered one of the first modern psychological novels in Western literature. The novel explores themes of love, passion, duty, and social constraints, set against the backdrop of the French royal court during the reign of Henri II. The novel was groundbreaking in its depiction of the inner life of its protagonist and its focus on character development. Before "La Princesse de Clèves," Madame de La Fayette wrote other works, including "La Princesse de Montpensier" (1662) and "Zayde" (1670), both of which also dealt with themes of love and societal expectations. In addition to her literary pursuits, Madame de La Fayette was involved in the intellectual and social circles of her time, maintaining close relationships with prominent figures such as François de La Rochefoucauld, Madame de Sévigné, and Madame de Maintenon. Through her writing and her involvement in the salons, she contributed significantly to the development of French literature and the novel as a genre.