Claire de Duras

Duchess Claire de Duras (* 1777 in Brest, † 1828 in Nice), was a French writer and Salonnière.

She was born as Claire Louise Rose Bonne de Kersaint Lechat. De Duras is a writer of three, today more advisable almost forgotten novels and leader of a famous Parisian salons an important figure in the literature of the Restoration period, whose work can be classified hard between the Enlightenment and early Romanticism.

As a highly educated, writing woman she was in contact with major artists of their time, indirectly influenced the work of Stendhal and had her novels often against criticism from fellow writers defend.

Characteristic of her work is the study of the issues of guilt, love, self- destruction and death. In all three novels, a relationship between two lovers ( personal secret / homosexuality? ) Out are not realized from outer ( origin / stand) or inner motives. At the end of the works of death of the protagonists is a symbol of their own negation, or as a transcendent way of salvation. Thus, the author not only the concepts of love and identity in question, but is aimed primarily against the norms and practices of their own social class.

Works

• Claire de Duras, Ourika, Editions des femmes, Paris 1979.
• Claire de Duras, Edouard, Mercure de France, Paris 1983.
• Claire de Duras ( établi, présenté et commente par Denise Virieux ), Olivier ou le Secret, Corti, Paris 1971.