The Princess of Cleves

First published anonymously in 1678, Madame de Lafayette is generally believed to be the author behind "The Princess of Cleves." Set between October 1558 and November 1559 at the royal court of Henry II of France, the novel is concerned with Mademoiselle de Chartres, a sheltered heiress who is brought to the court by her mother to find her a proper husband. This soon to be princess will find herself caught between her duty as a wife and her untimely love for another man. "The Princess of Cleves" is one of the great classics of French literature, known for its remarkable historical accuracy. The novel which is not only highly evocative of a past era marked a major turning point in world literature. Up to then novels had been highly romanticized whereas "The Princess of Cleves" is noted for having a highly realistic plot with deeply introspective characters.