La Grande Mademoiselle, 1627-1652

"La Grande Mademoiselle, 1627-1652" by Arvède Barine is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The narrative focuses on Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans, known as La Grande Mademoiselle, a significant yet underappreciated figure of her time. Through her life experiences, the book illustrates the complex socio-political landscape of 17th-century France, particularly during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. The opening of the book introduces La Grande Mademoiselle, daughter of Gaston d'Orléans, and sets the stage for an exploration of her childhood and early influences. The narrative highlights her upbringing amidst the court's intrigues, the contrasting personalities of her parents, and the royal family's dynamics. As Barine delves into La Grande Mademoiselle’s ambitions and the constraints she faced, it becomes evident that her life paralleled the shifting attitudes in France, reflecting broader societal transformations in morality, education, and women's roles at the court. This portion effectively establishes not only the character's background but also hints at her future adventures and the societal challenges she would embody. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Arvède Barine, was a French writer and historian. Arvède Barine was the pseudonym of Mme. Charles Vincens, born Louise-Cécile Bouffé on 17 November 1840. She mostly wrote on the subject of women, but she also wrote about travel, the political issues of the day, and the fantastic literature of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and E. T. A. Hoffmann. She died on 14 November 1908 in Paris.