Petit manuel de la femme supérieure : secrets intimes by Gerard de Beauregard
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Petit manuel de la femme supérieure by Gerard de Beauregard is a satirical conduct manual written in the late 19th century. Framed as intimate counsel to an ambitious Parisian lady, it explains how to cultivate not real brilliance but the appearance of superiority—through décor, dinners, calculated opinions, and a carefully staged persona. With playful irony, it offers a social strategy for the hostess who wants admiration more than enlightenment. The opening of
the manual sets out its premise: the goal is prestige by semblance, not substance, aimed at a woman of comfortable means in Paris. It urges her to avoid thinking for herself, borrow opinions from “authorities,” assemble a consistent “character,” and wield a repertoire of smiles, tact, and well-timed dissimulation, illustrated by brisk, cautionary glances at famous women of history. It then builds “the frame”: choose an old hôtel in the faubourg Saint‑Germain; arrange a grand and a small salon; display (real or acquired) ancestral portraits; keep a blue-toned bedroom with pre‑Raphaelite devotions; and create a luxurious, rumor‑friendly cabinet de toilette with mirrored bath. The table follows: a light Louis XV dining room, a proper lustre, restrained setting but profuse service, many small refined dishes, and far‑flung wines to found a reputation through dinners. Next comes the chaise longue, praised as an irresistible instrument of influence and the stage for the strategic return of “vapors” to soften adversaries. On dress, it defines toilette as effect and harmony, recommending modest bandeaux “à la Vierge,” rich daytime velvets, avoidance of gaudy “artist” affectations, and evening décolletage that suggests rather than exposes. Finally, as “the interior” begins, the guidance turns to the husband: he should be an agreeable, distinguished collaborator—neither ridiculous nor dazzling—kept trim, clubbable, and perfectly mannered so he supports, not steals, his wife’s show. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Beauregard, Gerard de, 1865- |
|---|---|
| Title | Petit manuel de la femme supérieure : secrets intimes |
| Original Publication | Paris: Dentu, 1897. |
| Credits | Laurent Vogel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica)) |
| Language | French |
| LoC Class | PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Subject | Satire |
| Subject | French literature -- 19th century |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 77876 |
| Release Date | Feb 7, 2026 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 208 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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