La Princesse de Clèves (1678) & "Madame De La Fayatte - Sa vie et ses ouvrages" par M. de Lescure

La Princesse de Clèves is a French novel which was published anonymously in March 1678. It was regarded by many as the beginning of the modern tradition of the psychological novel and a great classic work. Its author is generally held to be Madame de La Fayette.

The action takes place between October 1558 and November 1559 primarily at the royal court of Henry II of France, as well as in a few other locations in France. The novel recreates that era with remarkable precision. Nearly every character—though not the heroine—is a historical figure. Events and intrigues unfold with great faithfulness to the documentary record, and the novel is generally regarded as one of the first examples of historical fiction.

[for further information, please refer to the Wikipedia-entry: "La Pricesse de Clèves"! ]