This isn't a novel with a plot in the usual sense. It's a life, told in real time. From 1648 until her death in 1696, Madame de Sévigné wrote constantly to her beloved daughter, Françoise-Marguerite, who had married and moved to Provence. The 'story' is simply her world: the rise and fall of court favorites under the Sun King, Louis XIV, the latest literary successes and failures, family gossip, and her own profound reflections on love, loss, and aging.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because Madame de Sévigné is fantastic company. She’s not a distant historical figure; she’s a person you feel you know. Her voice is immediate, funny, and deeply emotional. One minute she’s dissecting a terrible play with the snark of a modern critic, the next she’s pouring her heart out about how much she misses her daughter, writing, 'I think of you incessantly; it is a condition of my soul.' She lived through major events—like the trial of a close friend for poisoning—and reports them with the urgency of a journalist. Her letters make the 17th century stop feeling like a painting and start feeling like a place where people laughed, worried, and loved just as we do.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories, historical gossip, or brilliant writing. It’s for people who enjoyed the personal intimacy of a diary like Samuel Pepys's or the social detail of a Jane Austen novel. It’s not a quick read—you dip in and out—but it’s a richly rewarding one. If you’ve ever thought primary historical sources were dry, Madame de Sévigné will change your mind forever. She turns the grand siècle into something wonderfully human.