Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Stael

by J. Christopher Herold

TRADE PB

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, France, Biography Memoir, French Revolution, Paris

614 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

J. Christopher Herold (1919-December 10, 1964) was born in Czechoslova­kia of Austrian parents. The family moved to Germany in 1939, and shortly afterwards Herold emigrated to the United States.

Herold received a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Columbia University. Fluent in 6 languages, he served with Army intelligence in World War II. After the war, he became assistant editor at Columbia University Press, and later editor-in-chief at the Stanford University Press.

Herold wrote a number of books on European history, such as “The Swiss Without Halos” (1948), “Joan, Maid of France” (1952), “The Mind of Napoleon” (1955), and “Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Staël” (1958).

Herald died in New York at the age of 45.

Reviews

[Helynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madame de Stael was such a thoroughly fascinating and amazing person that it's not surprising that there are numerous biographies from which to choose that all depict her tumultuous life and career in a thorough and colorful manner, whether in English or French. I am not familiar with all the biographies on Stael, but I am partial to Herold's meticulously researched and sensitive portrayal of her life and works. This lady truly was a "mistress to an age"--and what an age!
Madame de Stael (born in Paris as Anne Louise Germaine Necker; 1766-1817) was a simply amazing woman. Known for her enthusiasm and fire (decribed in terrific detail by Herold) as well as her intellectual prowess, she shook the foundations of French literature over the cusp of the 18th and 19th centuries. She survived a revolution, bore five children, had numerous affairs, hosted famous literary salons, defied Napoleon, survived a 10-year exile from her beloved France, traveled extensively through Europe, and ushered the Romantic movement into France all before her death at age 51.
Born in Paris of Swiss parents, Germaine was raised in the shadow of the Palace of Versailles where her father, Jacques Necker, was the financial minister to King Louis XVI. At age 20, Germaine allowed her parents to arrange her marriage to the Swedish ambassador to France, Erik Magnus Stael von Holstein. Although it was a loveless marriage that produced one daughter who died at age 2, the union was fortuitous for Germaine. She had had a privilged existence, hobnobbing with King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette and other kinds of folk whom the ruthless revolutionaries were determined to send to the guillotine. Germaine escaped such a fate partly because she had Swiss parents, but mostly because, as wife of the Swedish ambassador, she had diplomatic immunity. As the blade of the guillotine was whizzing down on people of her ilk, young Madame de Stael was able to effect a Scarlet Pimpernel-like operation by gathering rich friends into her carriage--emblazoned with the emblem of Sweden--and spiriting them off to safety at Coppet, her father's estate on Lake Geneva. (When you visit Geneva, take the train out to Coppet and tour the house, which is now a sumptuous museum).
But the most interesting and inspirational stories of Madame the Stael's life occured during 1802-1815, when she stood up to a disgruntled Napoleon. When she wrote her 1802 novel Delphine, the Emperor was furious that Stael dared advocate legalized divorce (outlawed under the Code Napoleon). Bonaparte ordered all copies of Delphine burned, and exiled the author from a 40-miles radius of Paris. When she published Corinne or Italy in 1807, the Emperor was even more offended since this novel praised the artistic milieu of Italy and ignored France. The author was now banned from all of France. Fortunately, Coppet was a haven for her and for others of similar beliefs and standards; a virtual safe-house for anti-Napoleonic commiseration and solidarity. In 1810, when she published her extensive essay On Germany (or De L'Allemagne) and dared suggest that French writers had a lot to learn from German writers about Romantic notions of love, emotions, nature, individuality, etc., the Emperor was so furious that he made Stael virtually a prisoner of her own estate, and posted guards around the west end of Coppet so she could not leave—at least not toward France. This did not conquer the indomitable Stael, who took off with her second husband and an entourage of friends eastward (where the guards were not posted) through Austria, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and England, writing all the way. Only when Bonaparte was exiled to Saint Helena could she return to her beloved Paris.
I especially love Herold's descriptions of the Napoleonic years when Stael made herself politically incorrect and subsequently unpopular for defying a dictatorial emperor. His description of her having to sit alone at an elegant party because association with her was poison, is heart-wrenching. Fortunately, a friend by the name of Delphine came to her rescue a few hours into the event, and sat by her side for the rest of the evening. Herold notes that the title of Stael's controversial novel, Delphine was a monument of gratitude for a simple act of kindness.
This biography is a thorough and admirable depiction of a marvelous life!

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well researched book ab⁷out a person who was involved in the political dealings of France at a very critical time in France's history. She had dealings with so many important and historical people. It is truly a fascinating woman and a fascinating book.

[Muaz Jalil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I was always fascinated by Madame de Stael. She reminds me of Emma and Scarlet O'Hara. Her mother Ms. Necker had a brief romance with young Gibbon. Apparently Madame Stael had an Electra complex, worshipped her father! I am now interested to read Germaine's (Her real name) books and letters. Also must read Adolphe by Benjamin Constant , her most important lover. Overall a great book, covers the social political developments as well and not just standard biography. Also interested to read about Sismondi, who was also influenced by Germaine. Great book

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Germaine de Stael was a fascinating character, intelligent, powerful and witty. But this biography of her life, I found to be quite dry, over long and not to my taste. I did finish it, but I'm not sure how I made it through, except I was curious about this famous, but now near-forgotten woman.

[James Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelous introduction to an amazing woman who participated in the beginnings of Romanticism. Madame Germaine de Stael charmed the intellectuals of her age with her salon. This book, called by Dame Rebecca West 'a cornucopia of good reading," is above all the biography of a great woman. Madame de Stael was courageous and prolific in her contacts with important personages of her age. A prolific letter writer, she also wrote novels and drama. In the 1790s she established a salon at Coppet in Switzerland, and there gathered round her a considerable number of friends and fellow-refugees, beginning the salon which at intervals during the next 25 years made the place so famous. However, in 1793 she made a long visit to England, and established a connection with other emigrants: Talleyrand, Narbonne, Montmorency, Jaucourt and others. The most brilliant period of her career began in 1794, when she returned to Paris after the Reign of Terror; her salon, known for its literary and intellectual figures, flourished, and she published political and literary essays, notably A Treatise on the Influence of the Passions upon the Happiness of Individuals and of Nations (1796), an important document of European Romanticism. In 1803 Napoleon, who resented her opposition, had her banished from Paris, and she made the family residence in Coppet her headquarters. 
She would also travel to Germany in part as a result of this exile from Paris by Napoleon. I found her liaisons, which were legion, fascinating and of particular interest her connections with the novelist Benjamin Constant. This is an excellent introduction to the age and to a vibrant woman who helped make the age more memorable. Probably her most important work is Germany (1810), a serious study of German manners, literature and art, philosophy and morals, and religion. Her other writings include novels, plays, moral essays, history, and memoirs.

[Jamie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book, about a brilliant and difficult woman. The author of plays and wildly successful books, her unflinching support of democracy and the rule of law made her the first lady of Europe and an enemy of Napoleon. She spread dangerous ideas and as a result was banned from living or publishing in France. Her mail was intercepted, her servants suborned, and her every move reported by the secret police to the tyrant himself, who followed her activities closely. This itself is a testament to how much influence she had and how she unnerved him.

Her brilliance as a champion of freedom is almost overshadowed by her incomprehensible personality and outlandish lifestyle. She was an arch-romantic who lived life with her emotions constantly dialed up to the histrionic maximum, her letters full of wailing and tears and threats to kill herself if the recipient did not do what she wanted. She surrounded herself with brilliant but weak men who were drawn to her incandescent personality like moths to a flame. At any one time she might have half a dozen of them with her, all insanely jealous of one another and all jockeying for her favor. Since they were intelligent they understood what was going on, at least when they were not swooning with love, and knew just how abject and pathetic they had become. Reading their letters is a cringe-inducing experience.

I had this book on my shelves for years before I read it, because it seemed well outside my normal tastes in history. I am glad I finally got to it, because it is one of the most memorable things I have read in a long time, a vivid, insightful look at the life and times of one of history’s most remarkable women.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding biography of the ever-fascinating de Staël. A movie should be made. The endless affairs! The fights with Napoleon! The travels across Europe as the Napoleonic Wars raged! The parents whose bodies were preserved in alcohol after death! It beggars description.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this many years ago and thought it was great. Would like to re-read.

[Michael McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best biographies I've ever read!

[Oleon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disfruté mucho cada página. Primero que nada porque leía los capítulos dependiendo un momento de mi vida. Encontré este libro en el 2016 en un mercado cerca de Apatlaco y desde entonces lo comencé a leer con un poco de distancia, así me familiaricé con los Necker. Luego dejé de leerlo y lo abrí muy poco viviendo en León, de hecho pensaría que ahí lo compré pero en realidad lo elegí porque fue un libro que no dejé cuando volví a mudarme. Luego lo dejé de lado, para volverlo a abrir cerca del 2019 y enbarcarme en la forma de amar, tan rebelde que ya era madame de Stael, creo que justamente por eso era lo celebrada que buscaba porque amaba así de suelto. Y por fin hace poco el final… ella tan hinchada, tan europea

[Corporal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly well written, well researched biography of a truly horrible woman. The author is a fan of Madame de Stael and presents her in a sympathetic light highlighting her contribution to modern literature. Her actions throughout the French Revolution and Napoleon's reign, which the author relates in great detail, reflect a reckless, selfish ideologue who did more harm than good. An incredible read. Couldn't put it down.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a woman! And an author of her biography to match.
Did Madame de Stael have ADHD?
It doesn’t matter because her intelligence and drive were amazing.
The author has written a knowledgeable and entertaining book. I trail off when it gets to theory but there wasn’t much of that.
Recommended. The author has done an excellent job with this book, that in other hands could have easily missed the mark.

[Rob Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing how involved Germaine was with so many important people. This biography was detailed and fascinating. I'm glad I read it but it took some work because of my unfamiliarity with the political environment of the time period.

[Cheryl]

Michael Perry enjoyed.

[Yooperprof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting account of Germaine Necker de Stael Rocca (1766-1821), aka Madame de Stael. It was said of the times she lives through that there were three great powers in Europe: the French Army, the British Navy, and Madame de Stael - and J. Christopher Herold certainly does a good job of bringing life to both this passionate woman and her confusing, hopeful, despairing, enlightened and romantic times. Yes, there may be a few passages in this book where Herold may go into a little bit too much detail summarizing Germaine's forgotten political and fictional books, but he always goes back to her life, which was filled with enough drama love and tragedy to fill an entire HBO miniseries.

Hey - that's a good idea!

She was the daughter of the great Finance Minister of Louis XVI, Jacques Necker, who did his best to save France from the abyss of economic collapse - and failed. Thus she enjoyed a front row seat for the French Revolution - in all its glory and horror. Her first husband was a Swedish diplomat who was a friend of Marie Antoinette; among her lovers were the incomparable diplomat Talleyrand, the influential economist Sisimondi, and the inflamed romantic novelist Benjamin Constant. And her second husband was a dashing French cavalryman half her age.

[Ronald Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography of Madame de Staël was a very worthwhile historical read. This individual was involved directly or indirectly with nearly every person and event I could recall from the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic period. Reading the details of her efforts and failures brought them all together in a cohesive whole I'd not previously appreciated.

Her family and collection of men were fascinating subjects, though I kept wondering what psychiatric diagnosis she would have been labeled with today. Her loyal entourage and salons led me to contemplate the limited ways in which women could then affect events. In her case it was difficult to distinguish her emotional needs and romantic passions from her political ambitions - a distinction made more difficult by her novels with strongly autobiographical content.

Reading this book now (2010) provided another aspect of interest. In the opinions and actions as Minister of Finance to King Louis XVI of her father, Jacques Necker, I saw some eerie parallels to our economic crisis of 2008.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best biography ever! Germaine de Stael goes through various regime changes and comments on the great events in French history- le ancien regime, the revolution, the Terror, the rise of Napoleon. Her defiance of the Corsican dictator is wonderful. Germaine drives Napoleon to the edge. She "discovers" German literature, meets Goethe and Schiller and makes it fashionable for even the French to read it. At the same time she has a more than healthy sex life. Her novels are quite pulpy, but fun. Through her we see the change from classical to romantic. One helluva woman!

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the now-defunct Ennui Cafe in Chicago, offered it to a friend who specializes in the history of France during the period, then, when it was declined, read it myself. De Stael's life ranged from the Enlightenment, through the Revolution, Napoleon and the Restoration. Daughter of Jacques Necker, Finance Minister under Louis XVI, she was connected to the elites of all these periods and, being Swiss as well as well-educated, rich and connected, virtually invulnerable.

[Jennie]

renewed my copy 4 times, and still couldn't get through it to the bitter end. this is a dense french history of the daughter of a middle class plutocrat, necker. germaine's thorough sense of entitlement led her--in spite of her tendency to awkward social alienatatione-- to influence politics before and during the revolution.

[H. P. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting person and what a fascinating life. Germaine Necker, daughter of Jacques Necker whose wise fiscal advise Louis XVI should have valued, was fully engaged in the art of life. I read this very detailed biography as a youngster and became enamored of her personality and wit. Highly recommend this.

[John Drennen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just finished John Paul Jones. While his nautical star was descending, Madame de Stark’s political target was ascending. Not sure if Jones and She crossed paths in Paris but they were certainly passing carriages in the Parisian circles of influence in which they traveled. Will know shortly.

[Claudia Moscovici · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most lively and interesting biography I ever read.

[Kelly Korby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great biography on a very fascinating woman who had contacts with almost every influential person of the 18th century.