94 - PRINGY, Jeanne Michelle de] - The Different Characters of Women of the Century, with a Description of Self-Esteem. Containing Six Characters and Six Virtues. Characters. I. The Coquettes. II. The Bigots. III. The Witty Ones. IV. The Thrifty Ones. V. The Playful Women. VI. The Litigious Women. Perfections. I. Modesty. II. Piety. III. Learning. IV. Discipline. V. Diligence. VI. Peace. Paris, Widow of Charles Coignard, 1694. Small 8vo, (12) leaves, 310 leaves, brown grained calfskin of the era, decorated ribbed spine, cap ends trimmed.

PRINGY, Jeanne Michelle de] - The Different Characters of Women of the Century, with a Description of Self-Esteem. Containing Six Characters and Six Virtues. Characters. I. The Coquettes. II. The Bigots. III. The Witty Ones. IV. The Thrifty Ones. V. The Playful Women. VI. The Litigious Women. Perfections. I. Modesty. II. Piety. III. Learning. IV. Discipline. V. Diligence. VI. Peace. Paris, Widow of Charles Coignard, 1694. Small 8vo, (12) leaves, 310 leaves, brown grained calfskin of the era, decorated ribbed spine, cap ends trimmed. GAY I, 913. First edition dedicated to Marie d’Orléans, Duchess of Nemours. “A Curious Study of the Women of the Grand Siècle, dedicated to Marie d’Orléans, Duchess of Nemours.” Mme de Pringy presents the “Coquettes,” the “Bigotes,” and the “Spirituelles” in contrast to the virtues that stand in opposition to them. For example, the “Coquettes” are contrasted with modesty. Self-love, the “dominant passion of women,” contains the seeds of all their faults. Madame de Pringy undoubtedly recalls La Rochefoucauld’s observations, which she merely expands upon. Her criticism, though it describes the effects of a poor upbringing, remains misogynistic: women’s temperament predisposes them to frivolity. “Beauty inspires in them a self-love that leads them to lead a soft and inactive life; and instead of curbing this effeminate inclination, they are even provided with the means to reinforce the habit and to take even greater pleasure in it.”