Marquise de Sévigné

Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné (1626–1696), was a French aristocrat renowned for her vivid, witty letters. Widowed young, she devoted herself to her children and to life in Parisian society, moving among leading salons and observing court and city with a sharp eye. Her most famous correspondence began after her daughter, Françoise-Marguerite, married the Comte de Grignan and lived largely in Provence; Sévigné’s letters to her became an intimate record of maternal affection, daily events, and contemporary manners. Written with narrative flair and psychological insight, her correspondence later secured her reputation as one of France’s greatest letter-writers.