
In this lively, eighteenth‑century tale we are invited into the cloistered world of a modest convent, where the solemn routine of prayer and poverty is quietly disturbed by whispered confidences and secret glances. The story opens with a candid letter from a devoted cleric, who promises to record the intimate conversations of the sisters, emphasizing both the reverence and the risk of exposing their private moments. The narrator’s tone is playful yet sincere, hinting at the tension between strict religious vows and the human cravings that linger beneath the habit.
The first encounter follows two young nuns, Agnès and Angélique, as they navigate a sudden, accidental glimpse of one another in an unguarded state. Their dialogue blends humor, modest embarrassment, and a subtle undercurrent of desire, revealing how affection and camaraderie can flourish even within the walls of discipline. The prose captures the delicate balance between chastity and curiosity, promising a charming exploration of convent life that is as thoughtful as it is entertaining.
Full title
Vénus dans le cloître, ou la religieuse en chemise Nouvelle édition enrichie de figures gravées en taille douce
Language
fr
Duration
~2 hours (140K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by René Galluvot (This file was produced from images generously provided by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Release date
2020-01-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
d. 1718
A 17th-century French writer and churchman, he is chiefly remembered today for works that circulated under his name in early modern print culture. Surviving catalog records place him in Nantes and give his lifespan as 1640–1718.
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