La Princesse de Clèves
La Princesse de Clèves, a French novel published without an author's name in March 1678, is often considered the starting point of the modern psychological novel and a classic of literature. Most scholars attribute it to Madame de La Fayette. The story is set between October 1558 and November 1559, mostly at the court of King Henry II of France, with a few scenes elsewhere in the country. The novel depicts this period with notable accuracy; almost all characters except the heroine are based on real historical people. Its plot and intrigues closely follow historical records, and it is widely seen as an early example of Western historical fiction.
The plot follows Mademoiselle de Chartres, a sheltered sixteen-year-old heiress brought to court by her mother to find a wealthy, well-connected husband. After old family rivalries cause better suitors to withdraw, she follows her mother's advice and marries the moderate Prince de Clèves. Soon after the wedding, she meets the charismatic Duke de Nemours, and they fall in love, though they never act on their feelings, meeting only occasionally in her salon. The Duke becomes caught in a court scandal, leading the Princess to suspect he has been unfaithful. A letter from a jilted mistress is found in a dressing room, but it was actually written to the Princess's uncle, the Vidame de Chartres, who is involved with the Queen. He asks the Duke to claim the letter, which ends up with the Princess; the Duke must show the Vidame's documents to prove his loyalty. Eventually, the Prince of Clèves realizes his wife loves someone else. She confesses this to him, and he pressures her until she names the man. After he has a servant spy on the Duke, he believes his wife has been both physically and emotionally unfaithful. He falls ill and dies from his sickness and a broken heart, blaming the Duke and begging the Princess not to marry him. Now free, the Princess struggles between duty and love. The Duke pursues her openly, but she rejects him and chooses to spend part of each year in a convent.
Key characters include Mademoiselle de Chartres, later Madame de Clèves, who wrestles with her duty to her husband and her love for the Duke; her mother, Madame de Chartres, who advises restraint and dies, leaving the Princess without a confidante; the Prince of Clèves, a prudent but deeply loving husband undone by jealousy; the Duke of Nemours, a dashing nobleman obsessed with the Princess; King Henry II, seen as a stand-in for Louis XIV; his mistress Diane de Poitiers; Mary, Queen of Scots; the Chevalier de Guise, who loves the Princess; Madame de Tournon, a court lady with two lovers; and the Vidame de Chartres, the Princess's uncle and the Duke's friend.
The novel was a huge commercial success upon release, with readers outside Paris waiting months for copies. It sparked public debates over its authorship and the wisdom of the Princess's confession to her husband. As one of the first psychological novels and the first *roman d'analyse*, it marked a major shift in fiction. Earlier novels were often long, implausible romances with many subplots, but *La Princesse de Clèves* offered a realistic plot, introspective language exploring inner thoughts, and only a few important subplots about other nobles.
- author
- Madame de La Fayette (generally held)
- field
- Novel
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- First psychological novel; first roman d'analyse; early historical fiction
Lore & Background
Mademoiselle de Chartres is a sheltered heiress, sixteen years old, whose mother has brought her to the court of Henri II to seek a husband with good financial and social prospects. When old jealousies against a kinsman spark intrigues against the young ingénue, the best marriage prospects withdraw. The young woman follows her mother's recommendation and accepts the overtures of a middling suitor, the Prince de Clèves. After the wedding, she meets the dashing Duke de Nemours. The two fall in love, yet do nothing to pursue their affections, limiting their contact to an occasional visit in the now-Princess of Clèves's salon. The duke becomes enmeshed in a scandal at court that leads the Princess to believe he has been unfaithful. A letter from a spurned mistress to her paramour is discovered in a dressing room, but this letter was actually written to the Princess' uncle, the Vidame de Chartres. The duke has to produce documents from the Vidame to convince the Princess that his heart has been true. Eventually, the Prince de Clèves discerns that his wife is in love with another man. She confesses as much. He relentlessly quizzes her—indeed tricks her—until she reveals the man's identity. After he sends a servant to spy on the Duke de Nemours, the Prince de Clèves believes that his wife has been both physically and emotionally unfaithful to him. He becomes ill and dies (of his illness and of a broken heart). On his deathbed, he blames the Duke de Nemours for his suffering and begs the Princess not to marry him. Now free to pursue her passions, the Princess is torn between her duty and her love. The duke pursues her more openly, but she rejects him, choosing instead to enter a convent for part of each year.
Reader's Guide
La Princesse de Clèves marked a major turning point in the history of the novel. Before it, novels had largely been used to tell romances, implausible stories of heroes overcoming odds to find a happy marriage, with a myriad of subplots and running up to twelve volumes. La Princesse de Clèves turned that on its head with a highly realistic plot, introspective language that explored the characters' inner thoughts and emotions, and few but important subplots concerning the lives of other nobles. The novel was an enormous commercial success at the time of its publication, and readers outside of Paris had to wait months to receive copies. The novel also sparked several public debates, including one about its authorship, and another about the wisdom of the Princess's decision to confess her adulterous feelings to her husband. Beginning in 2006, before he became the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy denigrated the book, arguing that it was ridiculous that civil service entrance exams included questions on La Princesse de Clèves. As a result, during the long movement of university lecturers in 2009 against his proposals, public readings of La Princesse de Clèves were held in towns around the country. Sales of the novel rose rapidly.
Did You Know?
- The novel was published anonymously in March 1678.
- The action takes place between October 1558 and November 1559.
- Nearly every character—though not the heroine—is a historical figure.
- The novel sparked public debates about the Princess's decision to confess her adulterous feelings to her husband.
- After Nicolas Sarkozy denigrated the book in 2006, public readings were held in towns across France in 2009, and sales rose rapidly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is La Princesse de Clèves about?
The story follows a young princess who, after marrying the Duke of Clèves, finds herself drawn to a charismatic courtier at the French court. She ultimately rejects a romantic affair and withdraws from society, choosing moral integrity over personal desire.
Why is La Princesse de Clèves important in literary history?
It is widely credited as the first true psychological novel, pioneering the 'roman d'analyse' tradition. It also stands as one of the earliest examples of Western historical fiction set in a specific period.
What genre is La Princesse de Clèves?
It is a French novel that blends deep psychological analysis with a historical court setting, making it a foundational text in both the psychological novel and early historical fiction traditions.
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