La duquesa de Sagan

La duquesa de Sagan / The duchess of Sagan

Novel , 2013

Edhasa

The life of one of the 19th century’s most influential and fascinating women

At the age of 19, Libuse joins the entourage of Katharina Friederike Wilhelmine Benigna von Biron, better known as the Duchess of Sagan. With her exceptional intelligence and unusual talent for chess, young Libuse is soon appointed the Duchess’ private lectrice, or reader. Libuse accompanies her mistress to Europe’s major palaces and becomes a privileged witness to the everyday life of an extraordinary woman: admired for her beauty and intelligence, the Duchess of Sagan was one of the wealthiest women of her time. She led a life of excess and luxury, had lovers of the stature of Wellington, Metternich, and the Czar, and was a friend to Talleyrand. Some even claim that she helped cause Napoleon’s downfall from behind the scenes.