Mme de Sevigne is the great correspondent of French literature. Her letters, written mostly to her daughter from 1648 to 1696, offer both a fascinating depiction of the France of Louis XVI (many of the great of the age are described) and a mine of subtle psychological reflections on human behavior. The portrait they offer of the complex relationship between mother and daughter is compelling, and their style (which influenced many writers, including Proust) is marked by clarity and elegance.
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