The Princesse De Cleves

by Lafayette, Madame de (Author); Buss, Robin (Translator); Buss, Robin (Introduction by)

• ISBN13: 9780140445879
• ISBN10: 0140445870
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-10-01
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

Poised between the fading world of chivalric romance and a new psychological realism, Madame de Lafayette's novel of passion and self-deception marks a turning point in the history of the novel. When it first appeared anonymously in 1678--in the heyday of French classicism--it aroused fiercecontroversy among critics and readers, particularly for the extraordinary confession which forms the climax of the story. It is now regarded as a landmark in the history of women's writing. In this entirely new translation, The Princesse de Cleves is accompanied by two shorter works alsoattributed to Mme de Lafayette, The Princesse de Montpensier and The Comtesse de Tende.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(18)
A Note on the Translation	19	(4)
The Princesse de Cleves
Book One	23	(39)
Book Two	62	(37)
Book Three	99	(40)
Book Four	139	(38)
Notes	177