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Madamoiselle de Chartres is sheltered young woman, brought to the splendors of the French Court to make a good marriage. Her mother raised her, for the time, very unique ideals regarding virtue and love. When the best matches withdraw due to reasons of court, the young woman marries a suitor who is desperately in love with her though she has no reciprocal feelings. She soon finds herself in love with another man but the sense of duty she feels for her husband does not allow her to pursue her inc
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Dec 02, 2011
Kristel
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Written in 1678, this novel can claim to be the first historical novel of the French court of the preceding century and it is also a novel of analysis examining emotions and attitudes. The primary object of the novel is morals but it avoids over simplification of judgments. Love in marriage was a novel idea. Marriage was for social status and mistresses were for love. This book is relatively short and addresses marriage, love and doing the honorable thing. The Princess of Cleves falls in love wi
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It takes some time to get into, and the character names/titles can be confusing (actually reminded me a bit of Tale of Genji in that sense--people are referred to by their titles so often you can forget who they actually are) but it was interesting once I got into it and it's quite brief. Of course, I have a hard time with all that female self-sacrifice and virtue. But whatever. Nice look into the ins and outs and intrigues of court life in 16th century France.
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An early French historical novel, published in 1678 and set over 100 years before, during the reign of Henri II of France, which ended in 1559 (the first year of the reign of Elizabeth I in England). Among the nobles at court is the young Mme (or princess - the title seems to be used rather haphazardly) of Cleves. She is married to a good man who loves her, but unfortunately she does not love him in return. She quickly falls in love with someone else, but she is determined to maintain her virtue
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Apr 21, 2017
Diane
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May 29, 2017
themis
marked it as to-read-before-you-die
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Oct 11, 2017
Jamie Barringer (Ravenmount)
rated it
it was ok
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Nov 26, 2017
Tim Hickman
marked it as to-read
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