1asurbanipal
There are many novels pretending to be memoirs, but I'm trying to establish which texts are real, sincere memoirs written in secret.
Marguerite de Valois, marquise de Montespan and Saint-Simon - that's what I've found so far. All of them available as ebooks on Project Gutenberg. The first caused scandal (written by Reine Margot near the end of her life, published posthumously), the second was written to present to posterity an unbiased account of life at Louis XIV's court full of intrigue, the third - considered a masterpiece.
What else? Be careful - there are many counterfeit memoirs.
I need Pepyses.
Marguerite de Valois, marquise de Montespan and Saint-Simon - that's what I've found so far. All of them available as ebooks on Project Gutenberg. The first caused scandal (written by Reine Margot near the end of her life, published posthumously), the second was written to present to posterity an unbiased account of life at Louis XIV's court full of intrigue, the third - considered a masterpiece.
What else? Be careful - there are many counterfeit memoirs.
I need Pepyses.
2thorold
I think you're right that the majority are really novels in disguise; they mostly turn out to be by Abbé Prévost or Courtilz de Sandras when you look them up.
The letters of the Duchesse d'Orléans (Liselotte von der Pfalz) seem to be authentic.
What about the Duc de Sully and the Duc de Rohan?
It could be worth having a look in Marie-Antoinette's library, e.g. with the tag Histoire de France. Scott had quite a few French memoirs too, but he was mostly interested in the revolutionary period (for his Napoleon biography).
The letters of the Duchesse d'Orléans (Liselotte von der Pfalz) seem to be authentic.
What about the Duc de Sully and the Duc de Rohan?
It could be worth having a look in Marie-Antoinette's library, e.g. with the tag Histoire de France. Scott had quite a few French memoirs too, but he was mostly interested in the revolutionary period (for his Napoleon biography).
3asurbanipal
I also asked elsewhere, and got the following answers:
Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz for marquise de Sévigné, and her letters.
Laura duchess d'Abrantes - diary
Marthe de Caylus - memoirs
Duc de Lauzun - diary
Louis Wairy Constant Napoleon I's camerdinaire - diary
Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz for marquise de Sévigné, and her letters.
Laura duchess d'Abrantes - diary
Marthe de Caylus - memoirs
Duc de Lauzun - diary
Louis Wairy Constant Napoleon I's camerdinaire - diary
4asurbanipal
"Économies royales" by de Sully - facts mixed with fiction
5asurbanipal
Henri, duc de Rohan "Mémoires sur les choses qui se sont passées en France, etc."
6asurbanipal
Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duc de Lauzun
8asurbanipal
Marthe-Marguerite (née) Le Valois de Villette de Mursay, Marquise de Caylus (1673-1729)
http://www.librarything.com/author/caylus
http://www.librarything.com/author/caylus
9asurbanipal
Laure Junot, duchess d'Abrantès Mémoires historiques sur Napoléon Ier, la Révolution, le Directoire, l’Empire et la Restauration (1831-1835)
10asurbanipal
Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse - Lettres inédités de Mademoiselle de Lespinasse à Condorcet, à D'Alembert, à Guibert, au comte de Crillon
11asurbanipal
Madame du Hausset - memoirs (available on PG).
I was looking for Louis XVI's diary, but is it available in English (or French)?
For example, Norman Mailer knew about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc-aux-Cerfs , one of his novels was named The Deer Park, published in 1955.
I was looking for Louis XVI's diary, but is it available in English (or French)?
For example, Norman Mailer knew about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc-aux-Cerfs , one of his novels was named The Deer Park, published in 1955.
12Dilara86
Jean Héroard was Louis XIII's physician. He documented his childhood and youth in his diaries, which are available on Kindle. He is quoted in Philippe Ariès's L'Enfant et la vie familiale sous l'Ancien Régime.

