Proust's Duchess: How Three Celebrated Women Captured the Imagination of Fin-de-Siecle Paris

The Duchesse de Guermantes: A Brilliant Look into Turn-of-the-Century Parisian High Society Experience the opulence and glamour of turn-of-the-century Paris through the eyes of three remarkable women who transformed themselves into living legends.

Geneviève Halévy Bizet Straus; Laure de Sade, Comtesse de Adhéaume de Chevigné; and Élisabeth de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay, the Comtesse Greffulhe - these women were the epitome of elegance, nobility, and style. Unhappily married but seeking freedom and fulfillment, they reinvented themselves as icons of Parisian high society, inspiring the creativity of several generations of writers, visual artists, composers, designers, and journalists.

With unprecedented access to historical records and personal accounts, author Caroline Weber takes you into their daily lives, revealing the loneliness, rigid social rules, and loveless arranged marriages that constricted their lives. But the true masterpiece of this book is the creation of Proust's supreme fictional character, the Duchesse de Guermantes.

Through a meticulous study of Proust's own writings and historical accounts, Weber uncovers the secrets of how these three women became the inspiration for one of literature's most iconic characters. Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of turn-of-the-century Parisian high society and discover the true stories behind the creation of one of literature's most beloved characters.