
This etext was produced by David Widger widger@cecomet.net
TH. BENTZON
BOOK 1. - JACQUELINE - CHAPTER I - A PARISIENNE'S "AT HOME"
MARIE JACQUELINE ADELAIDE DE VALTIER - BARONNE DE NAILLES - DIED AGED TWENTY-SIX YEARS
CHAPTER II - A CLEVER STEPMOTHER
CHAPTER III - THE FRIEND OF THE FAY
CHAPTER IV - A DANGEROUS MODEL
CHAPTER V - SURPRISES
CHAPTER VI - A CONVENT FLOWER
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Set in the elegant salons of late‑19th‑century Paris, the novel follows Jacqueline, a strikingly beautiful young woman whose poise and maturity set her apart from the other girls at Madame de Nailles’s gatherings. Through her eyes we glimpse the delicate dance of propriety, conversation, and ambition that defines the lives of women seeking purpose beyond the modest expectations of their families. The narrative captures the vibrant atmosphere of tea‑time gatherings, the whispered laughter of the “young girls’ corner,” and the quiet yearning that stirs beneath polished appearances.
As Jacqueline navigates her privileged yet constrained world, she becomes a conduit for the exchange of ideas between France and America, reflecting the broader cultural curiosity of the era. Her keen observations and inner resolve hint at a deeper journey toward self‑discovery, promising a story that intertwines personal growth with the social currents of her time. Listeners will be drawn into a richly textured portrait of a young woman poised on the cusp of change.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (155K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1840–1907
A sharp-eyed French journalist, novelist, and critic, she helped introduce American literature and social life to French readers. Writing under the pen name Th. Bentzon, she built a career that crossed fiction, reportage, and literary commentary.
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