Sophie d'Houdetot

Françoise Élisabeth Sophie de Tardieu d' Esclavelles or Élisabeth Françoise Sophie Lalive de Bellegarde (* December 18, 1730; † January 28, 1813 ), by marriage with the General César Louis François Marie Ange d' Houdetot ( 1749-1825 ) 1748 Countess of Houdetot (pronounced udetoh ), was a salonière.

Life and work

Her parents were the brigadier general of the infantry and governor of the citadel of Valenciennes Louis -Gabriel de Tardieu, marquis d' Esclavelles (1666-1736) and his wife Florence Prouveur Angélique de Preux ( 1695-1762 ). Both they had two children Louise Florence Pétronille de Tardieu d' Esclavelles or later Louise Florence Pétronille Lalive, marquise d' Epinay and just the Élisabeth Françoise Sophie.

She was among the literary celebrities of the 18th century, partly because of their long -standing relationship with the poet Jean -François de Saint- Lambert, but even more by the glowing inclination which she inspired Jean -Jacques Rousseau, who her in his " Confessions " does with passion and influence owes many poetic suggestions.

Around the year 1760, she entered into a relationship with Saint- Lambert, which lasted until his death in 1803. They lived in her last years together in a country estate near Paris.

Through kindness and spirit awarded equal, she wrote occasionally small, subtle poems which circulated secretly among their friends. She died, the last from among the encyclopedist.