“Here Are Some Fine Advisements and Conversations”—Forms of Courtly Conversation in Brantôme’s Les Dames galantes

Abstract

The Early Modern period’s courtly conversation is only sketchily reconstructable due to its ephemeral presentation form; the historian’s direct access to the “réalité concrète de la langue parlée” (“concrete reality of spoken language”) (Landy- Houillon) remains closed. Brantôme’s Le Recueil des Dames II—better known by the sensationalist title Les vies des Dames galantes (“The Lives of the Gallant Ladies”) chosen by the book printer Jean Sambix—at least offers a rudimentary access to the forms and types of courtly sociability, of which conversation is to be considered a substantial component. Pierre de Bourdeille, l’abbé commendentaire de Brantôme (1539/1542–1614) knows the practice of courtly life as a “gentilhomme de la cour” (“gentleman of the court”). As a confidant of high-ranking personalities such as Catherine i de Médicis or Marguerite de Valois, he records conversations and actions in his memories as an eyewitness. The “chronique scandaleuse” (“scandalous chronicle”), written after a serious accident in 1564, deals with affairs and gallant anecdotes at different European courts in several discourses. The principle of conversation becomes the composition principle of his work. In a narrative conglomerate that is difficult to disentangle, Brantôme presents stories that he himself experienced, that were told to him, or that he read in contemporary authors. In essence, according to this source, almost anything can be said in the courtly milieu, with the exception of explosive political topics, blasphemous derailments, or obscene stories that expose powerful actors.KeywordsBrantômeMontaigneCatherine de MédicisMarguerite de ValoisCourtly ConversationGallant AnecdotesWomen’s ImageVoyeur PerspectiveLicenses and Limits of Courtly Sociability