La Grande Mademoiselle, 1627-1652

A vivid portrait unfolds of a restless princess whose fierce desire for grandeur set her apart in a court swirling with intrigue. Born into the highest echelons of French nobility, she navigates a world where duty, ambition, and personal conviction clash, offering listeners a glimpse into the early years of a woman who would become a symbol of her turbulent age.

The narrative weaves her story with the broader currents reshaping France at the close of the seventeenth century. By drawing on the contrasting spirits of Corneille’s heroic optimism and Racine’s darker introspection, the author illuminates how the moral atmosphere of the nation shifted during the chaotic Fronde, reflecting the princess’s own reluctant surrender to emerging ideas. Her experiences serve as a lens onto a society in transition, where old hierarchies tremble and a new sensibility begins to take hold.

Through intimate anecdotes and richly drawn scenes, the biography captures the delicate balance between personal ambition and the sweeping changes that would define a generation, inviting listeners to travel back to a pivotal moment in French history.