Explore the bold, often subversive voices of French women writers—from medieval poets and salon stars to revolutionaries and world travelers. Across four classes, we’ll see how their works challenged social norms, reshaped literary traditions, and continue to resonate today.

March 24: A Castle of One’s Own
Marie de France, Christine de Pizan, and Marguerite de Navarre use tales of love, power, and politics to quietly defy expectations and redefine “feminine” literary genres.

March 31: Were the Précieuses Ridiculous?
Through the letters of Madame de Sévigné and the scandal-making novel The Princess of Cleves by Madame de Lafayette, we revisit the sharp wit and influence of 17th-century salon culture.

April 7: Vive la Révolution!
From Olympe de Gouges to 19th-century memoirists and children’s author the Comtesse de Ségur, we examine women who wrote boldly in the face of revolution, repression, and change.

April 14: Journey to the New World
Travel narratives by French women—from revolutionary exiles to Simone de Beauvoir—offer vivid accounts of courage, curiosity, and independence across the Americas.

Tuesdays | 4 classes, March 24 - April 14 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
In person and simulcast

This event is part of the French Cultures Festival, coordinated by Villa Albertine Houston.