Marguerite Buffet (ca. 1600–80 CE) was a Parisian gentlewoman and a private French teacher. Lynn S. Meskill is associate professor of English literature and translation at Paris City University. She is the author of Ben Jonson and Envy.

“Buffet’s fascinating text allows today’s readers to experience the vibrant and provocative salon culture of seventeenth-century France by bringing to life its sounds, conversations, and participants. Meskill’s elegant and faithful translation conveys the voices of Buffet’s female contemporaries as they shape French language and engage fully in early modern culture wars. Buffet’s text forces a reexamination of long-held views about salon culture and women’s roles in seventeenth-century France, freeing the salon from satirical portraits of Molière and succeeding centuries. Meskill’s exemplary introduction provides the tools to understand this work in its complex literary and historical context. Women regain their place as the masters of conversation and a major force that shaped the French language."

• Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction New Observations on the French Language, with Praises of Illustrious Learned Women Epistle: “To the Queen” Epistle: “To the Reader” Epistle: “To Mademoiselle Buffet, on Her Book” Of the necessity of speaking your language well, and how highly French is esteemed by all nations The First Part For the correction of barbarous and archaic terms, as well as those necessary for proper use; and of the origin of the letters that make up spelling Against those who speak too much, and the advantages to those who are sparing of words. On the subject of Pleonasm which follows The Second PartExamining pleonasm, or the redundancy of useless words, and the means of correcting it Concerning corrupt and badly pronounced words, and the advantages enjoyed by women who speak with exactness The Third PartTreating corrupt and badly pronounced words, and the means of correcting these errors Regarding terms that are poorly adapted, and the use one should make of time The Fourth PartIn which may be found remarks concerning some badly adapted terms, or terms whose meanings are confused with other terms A Treatise of Praises of Illustrious Learned Women, Past and Present Praises to the Glory of Some Illustrious Learned Women of Past Ages Certificate of the King’s Privilege Bibliography

Marguerite Buffet (ca. 1600–80 CE) was a Parisian gentlewoman and a private French teacher. Lynn S. Meskill is associate professor of English literature and translation at Paris City University. She is the author of Ben Jonson and Envy.

“Buffet’s fascinating text allows today’s readers to experience the vibrant and provocative salon culture of seventeenth-century France by bringing to life its sounds, conversations, and participants. Meskill’s elegant and faithful translation conveys the voices of Buffet’s female contemporaries as they shape French language and engage fully in early modern culture wars. Buffet’s text forces a reexamination of long-held views about salon culture and women’s roles in seventeenth-century France, freeing the salon from satirical portraits of Molière and succeeding centuries. Meskill’s exemplary introduction provides the tools to understand this work in its complex literary and historical context. Women regain their place as the masters of conversation and a major force that shaped the French language."

• Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction New Observations on the French Language, with Praises of Illustrious Learned Women Epistle: “To the Queen” Epistle: “To the Reader” Epistle: “To Mademoiselle Buffet, on Her Book” Of the necessity of speaking your language well, and how highly French is esteemed by all nations The First Part For the correction of barbarous and archaic terms, as well as those necessary for proper use; and of the origin of the letters that make up spelling Against those who speak too much, and the advantages to those who are sparing of words. On the subject of Pleonasm which follows The Second PartExamining pleonasm, or the redundancy of useless words, and the means of correcting it Concerning corrupt and badly pronounced words, and the advantages enjoyed by women who speak with exactness The Third PartTreating corrupt and badly pronounced words, and the means of correcting these errors Regarding terms that are poorly adapted, and the use one should make of time The Fourth PartIn which may be found remarks concerning some badly adapted terms, or terms whose meanings are confused with other terms A Treatise of Praises of Illustrious Learned Women, Past and Present Praises to the Glory of Some Illustrious Learned Women of Past Ages Certificate of the King’s Privilege Bibliography

Marguerite Buffet (ca. 1600–80 CE) was a Parisian gentlewoman and a private French teacher. Lynn S. Meskill is associate professor of English literature and translation at Paris City University. She is the author of Ben Jonson and Envy.

“Buffet’s fascinating text allows today’s readers to experience the vibrant and provocative salon culture of seventeenth-century France by bringing to life its sounds, conversations, and participants. Meskill’s elegant and faithful translation conveys the voices of Buffet’s female contemporaries as they shape French language and engage fully in early modern culture wars. Buffet’s text forces a reexamination of long-held views about salon culture and women’s roles in seventeenth-century France, freeing the salon from satirical portraits of Molière and succeeding centuries. Meskill’s exemplary introduction provides the tools to understand this work in its complex literary and historical context. Women regain their place as the masters of conversation and a major force that shaped the French language."

• Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction New Observations on the French Language, with Praises of Illustrious Learned Women Epistle: “To the Queen” Epistle: “To the Reader” Epistle: “To Mademoiselle Buffet, on Her Book” Of the necessity of speaking your language well, and how highly French is esteemed by all nations The First Part For the correction of barbarous and archaic terms, as well as those necessary for proper use; and of the origin of the letters that make up spelling Against those who speak too much, and the advantages to those who are sparing of words. On the subject of Pleonasm which follows The Second PartExamining pleonasm, or the redundancy of useless words, and the means of correcting it Concerning corrupt and badly pronounced words, and the advantages enjoyed by women who speak with exactness The Third PartTreating corrupt and badly pronounced words, and the means of correcting these errors Regarding terms that are poorly adapted, and the use one should make of time The Fourth PartIn which may be found remarks concerning some badly adapted terms, or terms whose meanings are confused with other terms A Treatise of Praises of Illustrious Learned Women, Past and Present Praises to the Glory of Some Illustrious Learned Women of Past Ages Certificate of the King’s Privilege Bibliography