Arsène Houssaye

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-05 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-01-16

Identity

French novelist, poet, and man of letters (1815-1896). Director of the Comédie-Française and prolific author.

Works Read by Marie

1874

• "Louis XIV et ses femmes" - About Louis XIV and his mistresses
• "Les courtisanes du monde" - About famous courtesans

Marie's Response

• January 16, 1874: "J'adore le style de A. Houssaye" - she can read and reread him without tiring
• Finds his style captivating
• His books feed her romantic and historical imagination

Historical Context

• Known for elegant, gossipy historical narratives
• Wrote extensively about French court life and famous women
• Popular with sophisticated readers interested in scandal
• His books were considered somewhat risqué for young ladies

Significance for Marie

• Introduces her to court intrigue and sexual politics
• Feeds her fantasies about aristocratic life
• Notable that her mother permits these "scandalous" books
• Shapes her understanding of women's power through beauty/sexuality