EP 119: Paris History Avec A Hemingway (Madame de Sévigné)

Madame de Sévigné, one of the greatest authors of the 17th century, never wrote a single book. Instead, she is known to us today as a “lady of letters”. 

Marie de Rabutin Chantal was born February 5, 1626, in the Palais Royal home of her grandparents. By the time she turned seven both of her parents had died and were being raised by her grandparents and uncle Christopher. He would teach her Latin, Italian and Spanish when she was quite young and turned her onto the great literature of the time rarely afforded to girls. 

In 1644 at 18 she married Henri de Sévigné at the Église Saint Gervais and two children followed. Françoise in 1646 and Charles in 1648 but the marriage would be short-lived, Henri was quite the philanderer and had a difficult time keeping it in check and it would end in his death. On February 5, 1651, his life would end in a duel. Challenged by François Amenieu over Mademoiselle de Gundron, one of his many mistresses. He didn’t fare well and died as a result. 

Madame de Sévigné at 25 became a wealthy widow which gave her a place in society few women could reach. Men would pursue her but she had no interest in getting married again. To fill her time she attended the salons and events of Paris and began to write letters to friends and family describing the scene and travels of each day. Women could rarely be published unless under a man's name and while she enjoyed the process she couldn’t be bothered worrying about how to publish, so she took to her letters. 

In 1669 her daughter Françoise married Comte de Grignan who was a widow twice over and much older than she. Their marriage would take François from her mother and Paris to the south of France and the Chateau de Grignan. On February 6, 1671, the first of over 1000 letters sent to her beloved daughter began. 

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Claudine Hemingway
Bleu, Blonde, Rouge

Author & historian
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