Ninon de Lenclos (1623-1705), le parcours d’une libertine au XVIIe siècle
Thanks to the concepts developed by the gender history, this Master's thesis seeks to re-evaluate the life of the seventeenth century libertine courtesan Anne de Lenclos, known as Ninon. The courtesan’s image promoted since the eighteenth century doesn’t reveal the complexity of the character: it only focuses on Ninon’s sexual behaviours or on her intellectual abilities and her role in the literary life of the “Grand Siècle”. A new reading of the courtesan’s correspondence and notarial acts (economical acts, testament, post-mortem inventory) allows us to gain a new understanding of the figure of Ninon. Indeed, our research demonstrates how the courtesan succeeded conciliate transgressions against the established order with an admired and respected “salonnière” reputation.
Libertinage Gender History Libertinism 17th Century Sociability Correspondence