Madame de La Fayette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne
Comtesse de La Fayette
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| Born | Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne 18 March 1634 Paris, France |
| Died | 25 May 1693 (aged 59) Paris, France |
| Resting place | Église Saint-Sulpice, Paris |
| Pen name | Madame de La Fayette Monsieur de Segrais |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Language | French |
| Nationality | French |
| Period | 17th century |
| Literary movement | Classicism, Précieuses |
| Notable works | La Princesse de Clèves |
| Spouse | François Motier, comte de La Fayette |
| Children |
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Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne, Comtesse de La Fayette (born March 18, 1634 – died May 25, 1693) was a famous French writer. She is best known as Madame de La Fayette. She wrote La Princesse de Clèves, which is considered one of the very first novels ever written. It was also France's first historical novel.
Contents
Her Life Story
Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne was born in Paris, France. Her family was noble and wealthy. When she was 16, she became a "maid of honour" to Queen Anne of Austria. This meant she helped the Queen.
She also started learning a lot about literature. A tutor named Gilles Ménage taught her Italian and Latin. He helped her join popular "salons." These were social gatherings where smart people discussed books, art, and ideas. She met many important people at these salons.
Her father died when she was young. Her mother then married Renaud de Sévigné. He was the uncle of Madame de Sévigné. Madame de Sévigné became her close friend for life.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1655, Marie-Madeleine married François Motier, comte de La Fayette. He was a nobleman much older than her. They had two sons together. She lived with him in the countryside for a while. However, she often traveled back to Paris.
In Paris, she became part of court society. She even started her own successful salon. She met many important people, including Henrietta of England, who later became the Duchess of Orleans. Henrietta asked Madame de La Fayette to write her life story.
Becoming a Writer
Madame de La Fayette moved to Paris for good in 1659. In 1662, she published her first book, La Princesse de Montpensier. She published it anonymously, meaning her name was not on it.
From 1665, she became very close friends with François de La Rochefoucauld. He was a famous writer known for his Maximes. He introduced her to other important writers like Racine and Boileau.
In 1669, the first part of Zaïde was published. This was a romance story set in Spain. It was signed by another writer, Segrais, but most people believe Madame de La Fayette wrote it. The second part came out in 1671.
Her Most Famous Work
Madame de La Fayette's most famous novel is La Princesse de Clèves. It was first published anonymously in March 1678. The book was a huge success. Many people consider it the first true French novel. It is also seen as an early example of a "psychological novel." This means it focuses a lot on the inner thoughts and feelings of its characters.
She also worked as a diplomatic agent. She helped Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours, the Duchess of Savoy, at the court of King Louis XIV.
La Rochefoucauld died in 1680, and her husband died in 1683. After these losses, Madame de La Fayette lived a quieter life. Three of her works were published after she died: La Comtesse de Tende (1718), Histoire d'Henriette d'Angleterre (1720), and Memoires de la Cour de France (1731).
Her Family
Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne was the oldest daughter of Marc Pioche and Isabella Pena. Her father was an Esquire to the King. Her mother's father was the King's physician.
She had two younger sisters: Eleonore-Armande and Isabelle Louise. Her mother remarried in 1650 to René Renaud de Sevigne. He was the uncle of the famous Marquise de Sevigne.
On February 15, 1655, she married François Motier, comte de La Fayette. He was the brother of Louise de La Fayette. They had two sons:
- Louis de Lafayette (1658–1729)
- Armand Renaud de La Fayette (1659–1694)
After her sons were born, her husband mostly disappeared from her life.
Her Books
Here are some of the books Madame de La Fayette wrote:
- La Princesse de Montpensier, published in 1662.
- Zaïde, histoire espagnole, published in 1671. This is a Spanish-themed romance story.
- La Princesse de Clèves, published in 1678. This is her most famous novel.
- Romans et Nouvelles, published in 1989.
- La Comtesse de Tende, published in 1718 (after her death).
- Histoire de madame Henriette d'Angleterre, published in 1720 (after her death). This is a history of Henrietta of England.
- Mémoires de la cour de France, published in 1828 (after her death). These are memoirs about the French court.
Images for kids
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Marie de LaFayette's La Princesse de Clèves (1678)
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Marie de LaFayette's Zayde (1670)
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Marie de LaFayette's La Princess de Montpensier (1662)
See also
- House of La Fayette
