author
abbé de Choisy
1644–1724
A French churchman and man of letters, he is remembered for vivid memoirs, travel writing, and a life that still sparks curiosity centuries later. His work moves between court society, religious history, and unusually personal self-portraiture.
1 Audiobook
Aventures de l'abbé de Choisy habillé en femme
by abbé de Choisy
About the author
Born in Paris in 1644, Abbé de Choisy was a French writer, cleric, and later a member of the Académie Française. He wrote across several genres, including memoir, church history, and travel narrative, and became known for bringing court life and religious subjects to the page in a lively, readable way.
One of the most striking parts of his legacy is his autobiographical writing, published after his death, which describes periods when he wore women's clothing in both private and public life. Those memoirs have made him a fascinating and much-discussed figure in literary and cultural history, not only for the details of his life but for the unusual candor of his self-presentation.
He also traveled to Siam in the 1680s as part of a French diplomatic mission, adding firsthand experience to his travel accounts. Choisy died in Paris in 1724, leaving behind a body of work that feels at once historical, personal, and unexpectedly modern.