Marie de Vichy-Chamrond Du Deffand, marquise

Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise (märēˈ də vēshēˈ-shäNrôNˈ märkēzˈ dü dĕfäNˈ) [key], 1697–1780, French woman of letters, whose salon was frequented (1753–80) by the leaders of the Enlightenment. She is widely considered the most brilliant woman of her era. Her letters (1766–80) to Horace Walpole, whom she loved deeply, are typical of her brilliant, witty correspondence.

See B. Craveri, Madame du Deffand and Her World (1995)

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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