National Book Award Non Fiction Winner
Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Staël
by J. Christopher Herold
Summary
A vibrant biography of the influential French-Swiss woman of letters who defied Napoleon and became a central figure in the European Romantic movement. It captures her intellectual power and scandalous personal life.
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Historical Context & Significance
The book paints de Staël as the "first modern woman," highlighting her role as a political thinker who was so influential that Napoleon famously feared her.