Abrantés, Laure d' (1784–1838)

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Abrantés, Laure d' (1784–1838)

French novelist. Name variations: Laurette de St. Martine-Permon, Laure Permon, Duchesse d'Abrantès or Abrantes; (pseudonym) Madame Junot. Born at Montpellier, France, 1784 (some sources cite 1785); died in Paris, June 6(?), 1838; dau. of Corsican mother (friend of Letizia Bonaparte); m. General Junot (one of Napoleon's generals), later duke of Abrantès or duc d'Abrantès; children: Constance Aubert (b. 1803).

Became lady-in-waiting to Letizia Bonaparte, mother of Napoleon; after husband committed suicide, began to write; published her 18-volume Mémoires de Mme la duchesse d'Abrantès ou Souvenirs historiques sur Napoléon, la Révolution, le Directoire, le Consulat, l'Empire et la Restauration (1831–35); also wrote Histoire des salons de Paris (1836–38).

See also Women in World History.