MAZARIN, Hortense Mancini (Duchess of); [SAINT-RÉAL, César Vichard (l'Abbé de)].
The Memoires of the Dutchess Mazarine.
The Memoires of the Dutchess Mazarine.
Written in French by her own hand, and done into English by P. Porter Esq; together with the reasons of her coming into England. Likewise, a letter containing a true character of her person and conversation.
Stock Code 122049
London, Printed, and to be sold by William Cademan, at the Popes-Head in the New-Exchange, and Middle-Exchange in the Strande, 1676.
niece of Cardinal Mazarin and mistress to King Charles II
The first translation into English of Hortense Mancini, Duchess of Mazarin's (1646-1699) memoirs recounting her experiences of marriage and life at court in the seventeenth century. First published in French in 1675 under the guidance of the historian César Vichard de Saint-Réal.Hortense was brought to France following the death of her father in 1650 to be raised under the influence of her powerful maternal-uncle Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661), chief minister to the King of France Louis XIII and his successor Louis XIV. Her memoirs recount her early years at the French Royal court, which included marriage proposals from Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy and the then exiled Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland, her disastrous marriage to the domineering Duke of Le Meilleraye.
This English translation was published shortly after the arrival of Hortense at the court of the restored Charles II, ostensibly to visit her cousin Mary of Modena, wife of Charles' brother James, the future King. In 1676 she became official mistress to the King, but shortly afterwards began a lesbian affair with Charles' illegitimate daughter Anna Lennard, Countess of Sussex.
'Her memoir spurred other women to publish their life-writings while her long-running salon popularized the model in England and showcased the opportunities within the salon model for women's learning and cultural participation. Together, these contributions advanced the wider project of women's emancipation' (ODNB).
Scarce. ESTC records only 10 copies in institutional collections worldwide, 6 in the British Isles (BL, Trinity College, Cambridge, Carlisle Cathedral, NLS, and Bodleian) and 4 in North America (Duke University, Huntington, Library of Congress, and UCLA).
First edition, second impression; 8vo (15 x 10 cm); woodcut initials and headpieces, early pen inscription to margin of B3 verso, edges toned, small tear with slight loss to top of gutter margin of first f.; contemporary sheep, a little soiled and rubbed, very good; [4], 130pp.
ESTC R19039; M1538.
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