The Princess of Cleves

The Princess of Cleves by Madame de La Fayette

Set towards the end of the reign of Henry II of France, The Princesse de Cleves (1678) tells of the unspoken and unrequited love between the beautiful, noble Mme de Cleves, who is married to a loyal and faithful man, and the Duc de Nemours, a handsome man who most courtesans find irresistible. Warned by her mother not to admit her passion for her, Mme de Cleves hides her feelings from fellow courtiers, until she finally confesses to her husband - an act that carries tragic consequences for all. Described as France's first modern novel, The Princesse de Cleves is an exquisite and profound analysis of the human heart and a moving representation of the inseparability of love and anguish.