As for Agrippa d'Aubigné's grand daughter, that's Mme de Maintenon rather than the Maréchale de Noailles, his great-grand-daughter. Mme de Maintenon would no doubt say that her renunciation of Protestantism and fervent embrace of Catholicism is sincere, but from the earliest age she seems to have known on which side her bread is buttered. As Louis XIV's secret wife, the butter is very thick indeed.
It's a common practice of the period, when there were few socially respectable ways of getting money. All people of property tried to keep abreast of everyone else's family tree, assets, and income, information vital for marriage alliances. We see it in the work of British writers, too. Jane Austen often tells us her characters' incomes. For instance, Elizabeth Bennett in Pride & Prejudice will have only £200 per annum on her father's death, which is why her marriage prospects are dim, poor thing.
I agree re Austen…but the difference is that Austen was writing fiction, while de Luynes was writing his own diary. Not that Austen may not have done the same in her diary.
Don’t forget that, yes, Elizabeth’s prospects were dim indeed. But look: there she is with Mr Darcy the sex god. So that turned out very well.
Yes, Austen was writing fiction. I use that example because I think it arises out of the same preoccupations common to the propertied classes on both sides of the Channel. And yes, Miss Bennett does very well for herself.
Hey, do we know of any particular reason for de Luynes's recording of everyone's income?
How interesting that de Noailles, as d'Aubigne's grand-daughter, acted the way she did. Was it, in some part, a rebellion - or was it based on belief?
As for Agrippa d'Aubigné's grand daughter, that's Mme de Maintenon rather than the Maréchale de Noailles, his great-grand-daughter. Mme de Maintenon would no doubt say that her renunciation of Protestantism and fervent embrace of Catholicism is sincere, but from the earliest age she seems to have known on which side her bread is buttered. As Louis XIV's secret wife, the butter is very thick indeed.
Ah yes…great grand-daughter. And again…ah yes, the very thick butter!
It's a common practice of the period, when there were few socially respectable ways of getting money. All people of property tried to keep abreast of everyone else's family tree, assets, and income, information vital for marriage alliances. We see it in the work of British writers, too. Jane Austen often tells us her characters' incomes. For instance, Elizabeth Bennett in Pride & Prejudice will have only £200 per annum on her father's death, which is why her marriage prospects are dim, poor thing.
I agree re Austen…but the difference is that Austen was writing fiction, while de Luynes was writing his own diary. Not that Austen may not have done the same in her diary.
Don’t forget that, yes, Elizabeth’s prospects were dim indeed. But look: there she is with Mr Darcy the sex god. So that turned out very well.
Yes, Austen was writing fiction. I use that example because I think it arises out of the same preoccupations common to the propertied classes on both sides of the Channel. And yes, Miss Bennett does very well for herself.