French Literature Reviews - 2026

'Divine Thalie': the career of Jeanne Quinault
Theatre and Performance

NEW BOOK PUBLICATION!

'Divine Thalie': the career of Jeanne Quinault
by Judith Curtis

SVEC 2007:08
ISBN 978 0 7294 09117, xi + 229pp, 1 ill. £50 / €78 before tax/ $109

Actress, salonnière, and advisor to playwrights from Voltaire to Graffigny, Jeanne Quinault made talent count for more than social standing. Following a successful acting career, she continued to have a marked influence on the development of eighteenth-century comedy by sponsoring both actors and authors, and participating in the creation of a number of works. This is the first detailed study of Jeanne Quinault, her family and her circle based on archival resources and unpublished collections of letters.

Published as part of the prestigious SVEC (Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century) book series by the Voltaire Foundation.

For further information on this and other SVEC titles, go to www.voltaire.ox.ac.uk
To place an order, please contact email@voltaire.ox.ac.uk

The eighteenth century in France was characterized by the rise of the salon as a vital space for intellectual and artistic exchange. Within this milieu, figures like Jeanne Quinault navigated the intersection of performance and literary production. As an actress, salonnière, and advisor to playwrights from Voltaire to Graffigny, Quinault influenced the development of eighteenth-century comedy by sponsoring both actors and authors and participating in the creation of works.

This study of Jeanne Quinault, her family, and her circle is based on archival resources and unpublished collections of letters. It examines her role as a sponsor of both actors and authors and her participation in the creation of works within the theatrical landscape of the eighteenth century. Readers interested in the history of French theatre and the role of women in eighteenth-century literary circles may find this biographical account relevant.