La Princesse De Cleves - Madame de Lafayette

This is a very important book in French literary history. Its authorship is still debatable, no-one really knowing whether Madame de Lafayette actually wrote it or not. But more importantly this is one of the first novels in French literature to be taken seriously. The opening chapter is almost impenetrable and I only got through it at the fourth attempt, but the rest is very rewarding. It concerns the intrigues and cabalas of court life of Henri II. I did not really like it, but it is short enough and after the first chapter well enough written to warrant an effort. ... more