Madame de Staël

"Madame de Staël" by Bella Duffy is a late 19th-century biography that tells the story of Germaine de Staël, a significant literary and political personality during the French Revolution. The book highlights her key relationships, especially the one with her mother, Madame Necker, and the social scene that affected her intellectual interests and principles. The story starts by showing Madame de Staël's early life, focusing on how her upbringing, led by her influential parents, particularly Madame Necker, boosted her mind. Duffy gives details about Madame Necker's personality and what she wanted for her daughter, who starts to become an important person. As Germaine gets older, we see how her family works, especially the arguments with her mother about education and expressing herself, which prepares her for her future as a writer and political thinker. The beginning of the book prepares us to learn more about Madame de Staël's writing contributions and her important part in the chaotic events of her time.