Gallant Ladies

Pierre de Bourdeau, Lord of Brantome (circa 1540-1614), served the French kings, was known at court as a womanizer and a witty person, traveled around Europe, participated in the Religious Wars, did not accumulate either great wealth or high titles, and in old age remained alone, but history remembers him - as a memoirist, chronicler of court life, and one of the most popular writers of the French Renaissance. Among his works are biographies of queens and generals of France, but his most famous book remains "Gallant Ladies." Sometimes caustic, often humorous, invariably frank tales about the lives of high-society ladies and gentlemen, who enthusiastically and easily give themselves to passions, anecdotes about unnamed, yet known to both historians and contemporaries historical characters, sharp observations about human nature, a cheerful and carefree readiness to enjoy, regardless of everything - "Gallant Ladies" was written by a person who deeply understood the psychology of love affairs, a selfless libertine, and a brilliant lover of life.