Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse facts for kids
Julie de Lespinasse (born November 9, 1732 – died May 23, 1776) was a clever French woman. She was famous for hosting special get-togethers called salons in Paris. These gatherings happened during a time known as the Enlightenment, when many new ideas were discussed. Today, Julie is best known for her letters. These letters, first published in 1809, tell interesting stories about her deep feelings for two men.
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Early life of Julie de Lespinasse
Julie-Jeanne-Éléonore de Lespinasse was born in Lyon, France. Her mother was Julie-Claude-Hilaire d’Albon, who came from an old family. At the time Julie was born, her mother was separated from her husband. So, Julie was recorded as the daughter of two made-up people.
For a long time, it was a mystery who Julie's real father was. Later, a writer named Marquis de Ségur found out that her father was Gaspard de Vichy-Chamrond. His sister was Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand, who also ran a famous salon in Paris.
Because she was born outside of marriage and was not wealthy, Julie had a difficult childhood. She felt neglected. She got a basic education at a convent, which is like a religious school. But she mostly taught herself. This was very impressive because she later became able to talk with some of France's smartest people. In 1754, her aunt, Madame du Deffand, saw how talented Julie was. She asked Julie to come to Paris to be her companion.
Hosting famous salons
Julie moved into Mme du Deffand's home in Paris. Mme du Deffand's salon was a popular place. Important people like diplomats, noblemen, thinkers, and politicians gathered there. Julie stayed with her aunt for ten years.
In 1764, their relationship ended. Mme du Deffand became jealous because younger guests at the salon liked Julie more. After a disagreement, Julie decided to start her own salon. Many of the same people who went to Mme du Deffand's salon started coming to Julie's.
The famous mathematician and writer Jean le Rond d'Alembert became a close friend. He joined Julie's new salon and later even lived in her house. They were not in a romantic relationship. This arrangement made Julie's salon even more important. It became a main meeting place for writers of the Encyclopédie, a huge book of knowledge. For example, the writer Diderot made Julie a character in one of his philosophical talks.
Julie was not rich or from a high-ranking family, and she was not known for her beauty. But she was very smart, charming, and a great hostess. These qualities made her salon gatherings the most popular in Paris. Even though she was very successful in society, her lasting fame comes from her writing talent. This talent was a secret during her lifetime.
Her powerful letters
Two books of Julie de Lespinasse's letters were first published in 1809. They showed her to be a very strong and emotional writer. A literary expert named Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve said her letters were as good as those by Héloïse. Other writers compared her work to famous novels about passionate love.
Julie de Lespinasse's letters mostly focus on her deep and difficult feelings for two men. These men were Don José y Gonzaga, Marquis de Mora, and Jacques-Antoine-Hippolyte, Comte de Guibert. Her letters are not as calm or philosophical as some other writers of her time. Instead, they show her as someone who felt she was a tragic hero, willing to give everything for love.
Letters to the Marquis de Mora
Julie de Lespinasse first met the Marquis de Mora about two years after she started her own salon. When she met him again two years later, she fell in love with him, and he felt the same way. However, he started to get sick with tuberculosis. He had to go back to Spain for his health.
Julie's letters show how much pain she felt from being separated from him. She was also very worried about his health. In 1774, the marquis was traveling back to Paris to be with Julie. Sadly, he died in Bordeaux at the age of 30.
Letters to the Comte de Guibert
Soon after the Marquis de Mora went back to Spain, Julie de Lespinasse met the man who would become the most important person in her life: the Comte de Guibert. He was a colonel at the time. Her letters to Guibert began in 1773. Soon, they showed that she felt torn between her feelings for Mora and her new strong feelings for Guibert.
Later letters describe her growing sadness. This was partly because Guibert married another woman in 1775. Her letters show her increasing despair and unhappiness.
Death
By early 1776, Julie de Lespinasse was very sick, both mentally and physically. This was likely caused by the unhappiness in her relationship with Guibert. She had shown signs of sadness before. When she was dying, she did not want to see Guibert. Instead, her friend d'Alembert stayed with her. She died on May 22, 1776, in Paris. She was 43 years old. She may have died from tuberculosis. Her last words are said to have been, "Am I still alive?"
See also
In Spanish: Julie de Lespinasse para niños
