Mademoiselle de Maupin

Name: Mademoiselle de Maupin
Author: Théophile Gautier

By Théophile Gautier

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French Literature

About This Book

The work opens with a satirical preface attacking fashionable moralizing and proceeds into an episodic narrative that probes aestheticism, gender performance, and erotic desire. A striking young woman adopts male dress to provoke and observe the reactions of admirers within a salon, setting off jealousies, passionate confessions, and ethical disputations. Interspersed chapters mix romantic episodes with critical digressions on art, taste, and hypocrisy, using vivid description and irony to unsettle conventional distinctions of sex, virtue, and identity while examining how appearance, reputation, and theatricality shape social relations.

About the Author

Théophile Gautier

Théophile Gautier (1811-1872) was a French poet, novelist, and art critic, known for his contributions to the Romantic movement. His literary works often blend fantasy and realism, showcasing his fascination with beauty and the exotic. Gautier's notable works include the novel "Mademoiselle de Maupin," which explores themes of gender and identity, and the short story collection "One of Cleopatra's Nights and Other Fantastic Romances," which reflects his interest in the supernatural. He was also a close associate of Charles Baudelaire and played a significant role in the literary culture of 19th-century France.