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The Princesse de Clèves

Madame de La Fayette

Start date: January 1, 2017

Finish date: January 15, 2017

Discussion: Classics Corner

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What Members Thought

Oct 09, 2008 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: classics, read-2010, e-books, french-literature, audio-books, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you

Madame de Lafayette's classic tale of intrigue and love translated and freely dramatised by Jo Clifford.
Set in the 16th Century, the play follows the life of a beautiful young lady newly presented to Court. It's the reign of Henri II and Mary Queen of Scots is safely ensconced in France. It's a time of dangerous liaisons when one step out of line could ruin a woman and her family.
Quickly married off, the naïve Princess finds herself admired and taunted by those around her. And, whilst they gossi ...more

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Jan 01, 2017 Barbara rated it really liked it

It seems to be generally agreed that the beginning of this novel is tedious. My advice is to persevere because once Madame de Lafayette sets up the characters and the place, the story flies. I was fascinated by the eroticism that she was able to depict between two people who seemingly never touched each other. The intense chemistry of a couple who are initially very attracted to each other endures throughout. But, in this case, Princesse de Cleves is deadly realistic about marriage, her own surv ...more

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