Old Book 1739 - LIVES OF THE GALANT LADIES - Princesses and Queens of Europe

This book is the second volume of the renowned memoirs by Pierre de Bourdeille, known as Brantôme (c. 1540–1614), a French nobleman, soldier, and writer best known for his vivid, often risqué accounts of courtly life during the Renaissance. These “Vies des Dames Galantes” (Lives of the Gallant Ladies) offer anecdotes, portraits, and commentary on the love affairs, charms, intrigues, and reputations of aristocratic women who moved in the royal and noble courts of 16th-century Europe. 

Summary

Brantôme’s Mémoires are a blend of biographical sketches and candid reflections on female figures of his time—queens, noblewomen, courtesans—whom he observed with a mix of admiration, wit, and sometimes scandalous curiosity. In the section visible in the third image, titled “Discours Quatrième”, he discusses married women, widows, and maidens, analyzing which of these groups, in his view, is most inclined toward love. The text, typical of Brantôme, weaves French narrative with occasional Spanish expressions, showing his international experience and courtly fluency.

Written in a lively and conversational tone, the memoirs reflect the values, mores, and entertainments of the Renaissance aristocracy. Though not strictly historical, the Vies des Dames Galantes are a unique window into gender, love, and honor in early modern France. They are also an early example of French literary memoir, mixing observation, gossip, and philosophical musings on love and human behavior.

Size: 5.3" x 3" x 1.1"

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