Gaston Maugras’s book takes us straight into the heart of the French Enlightenment, but through a very personal lens. It’s the dual biography of Marie-Françoise-Catherine de Beauvau-Craon, the Marquise de Boufflers, and her son, Stanislas-Jean, the Chevalier de Boufflers.

The Story

The Marquise was a central figure in Parisian high society. Her salon was legendary, a place where thinkers like Voltaire and Hume might drop by. She was celebrated for her sharp mind, her poetry, and her ability to navigate the complex social and intellectual currents of the time. Her life was one of cultivated brilliance.

Her son, the Chevalier, chose a radically different path. He became a soldier, a colonial administrator in Senegal, and a daring traveler. While his mother’s world was one of conversation and connection within Paris, his was defined by action, duty, and often solitude in far-flung corners of the world. The book follows their parallel lives, showing how the values of the old regime, embodied by the Marquise, gave way to a new age of exploration and empire, lived by her son.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book so compelling is the quiet tension between these two lives. It’s not a story of loud arguments, but of subtle divergence. You see the Marquise, perhaps bewildered, as her son embraces a life she can’t fully understand. You see the Chevalier, shaped by his mother’s world yet compelled to leave it behind to define himself. Maugras does a wonderful job of letting their letters and actions tell this story. You get a real sense of two complete, complex people, not just historical footnotes. It’s a poignant reminder that even in the grand sweep of history, the most relatable dramas are often family dramas.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who loves character-driven history. If you enjoy books that explore the human side of major historical shifts, or if you’re fascinated by 18th-century France but want a story that feels intimate rather than overwhelming, you’ll love this. It’s for the reader who wonders about the people behind the portraits—their hopes, their disappointments, and the unspoken bonds that stretch across continents and generations.