The Princess of Cleves
(Annotated Edition)
Description:... The novel is set in the middle of the 16th century. Madame de Chartres, for many years after the death of her husband, has lived far away from the court, and now came with her daughter to Paris. Mademoiselle de Chartres goes to a jeweler to choose something. There she accidentally meets the Prince of Cleves, the second son of the Duke of Nevers, who falls in love with her at first sight. He wants to know who this young lady is, and the sister of King Henry II, because of the friendship of one of her maids of honor with Madame de Chartres, introduces young beauty at the court the next day, and she causes a general admiration. Seeing that the nobility of the beloved is not inferior to her beauty, Prince of Cleves wants to marry her, but is afraid that the proud Madame de Chartres deems him unworthy of her daughter because he was not the eldest son of the Duke. The Duke of Nevers does not want his son to marry Mademoiselle de Chartres, which hurts Madame de Chartres, thinking her daughter to be an enviable party. The family of another pretender of the hand of a young lady - the Chevalier de Guise - does not want to intermarry, and Madame de Chartres is trying to find her daughter a party, which would have ennobled her over those who considered themselves above her. Her choice falls on the eldest son of the Duke de Montpensier, but because of the intrigues of a longtime mistress of the King Duchesse de Valantinua, her plans suffer crash. The Duke of Nevers suddenly dies, and the Prince of Cleves soon asks for the hand of Mademoiselle de Chartres. Madame de Chartres asked her daughter's opinion and heard that she had no special inclination towards the Prince of Cleves, but respected his dignity so she accepted the proposal; soon, Mademoiselle de Chartres became the princess of Cleves. Being raised in strict rules, she behaves impeccably, and virtue gives her peace and respect. The Prince of Cleves loves his wife, but feels that she does not respond to his passionate love. It clouds his happiness.
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