SKU: 99772150190

"Madame De" 1954 VILMORIN, Louise de (SOLD)

Sale price$180.00 Regular price$200.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $50.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 11 - Aug 16

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

"Madame De" 1954 VILMORIN, Louise de (SOLD)VILMORIN, Louise de [54] pp. Julian Messner, Inc. 1954 6 3 4" x 8 1 2" Drawings by Ian Ribbons VG VG A society woman in Paris sells her jewels, a gift from her husband, to pay debts. The buyer informs the husband, the husband buys them back and gives them to his mistress. The mistress sells them and they come back to the original woman via an admirer. THE story of the earrings of Madame de begins with this observation: "Elegance rather than beauty was

VILMORIN, Louise de

[54] pp.

Julian Messner, Inc.

1954

6 3/4" x 8 1/2"

Drawings by Ian Ribbons

VG/ VG

A society woman in Paris sells her jewels, a gift from her husband, to pay debts. The buyer informs the husband, the husband buys them back and gives them to his mistress. The mistress sells them and they come back to the original woman via an admirer.

THE story of the earrings of Madame de- begins with this observation: "Elegance rather than beauty was accorded the mark of merit in the circle of society to which Madame de- belonged." American readers who break into that charmed circle will no doubt agree that Madame de- was the most elegant of all women. Her manners were faultless, and her sensibilities exquisite. She deceived her husband like a lady, and he understood and forgave her like a true man of the world. Even her anonymity distinguished her: the author explains she wrote the book so quickly she had no time to give the heroine more than the dangling particle de.

Quickly written or not, Louise de Vilmorin's novelette is a perfect drawing room fable—a real jewel, as one of the characters might say in highest praise. And though the jewel is precious, it was cut with a rare economy of means. A complex story (recently made into a French movie) is told here in fifty-four pages of uncomplicated writing.

The theme of “Madame de” is deception: the web of falsehoods in which a fashionable woman can be caught, and drawn to tragedy. Madame de- cannot resist telling her rich and generous husband that her dresses cost half of what they actually did cost her. So to pay her debts she sells the heart-shaped diamond earrings which were a wedding present from Monsieur de- and pretends to lose them at a ball. The family jeweler who bought them believing Monsieur de- had some private money troubles suddenly finds himself in possession of jewels believed to have been stolen. He takes them to Monsieur de who buys them for the second time. Saddened by his wife's pretense, and the injury done his good name, he gives them to a mistress.

Before Moniseur de- is through he buys the earrings back three times, and they change hands on ten increasingly elaborate occasions Madame de- suffers at each exchange, until, abandoned by her ambassador-lover, she dies of sadness and pneumonia.

TRUE to Gallic tradition, both her husband and her lover are present for the deathbed scene, when her two hands gently open and disclose a diamond heart in each, “It was as though she had meant to give them away and she cared not to whom.

"'She is dead,' said Monsieur de-. 'Take this heart which she has given you, The other is her own. I will take charge of it.'

"Monsieur de- laid the other heart on the heart of his wife and then sent for the old nurse. Forthwith, the room was full of the rustle of skirts and the sound of wailing. The candles which had so often lit up her dinner parties now shone round her deathbed. Monsieur de- sent for his tailor, and, without telling him the reason, ordered some suits of mourning."

Madame de Vilmorin is at her best in this airy fantasy of manners. Her novel “Julietta” suggest that she is less gifted for bigger books; characterizations which seemed delightfully transparent in “Madame de” become opaque in a longer novel.

The least successful of these characters is the adolescent heroine, Julietta, who "spent her life in a world of her own invention." Escaping from her mother (a bourgeois lady) and her 54-year-old fiancé (a prince), Julietta takes refuge in the attic of Landrecourt (an intellectual). Here, she invents a world of her own so splendid that Landrecourt is dazzled and won—though his mistress-Rosie's exasperation with these goings-on deserves the reader's sympathy. In fact, the portrait of Rosie, in all her high-toned frivolity, is both the triumph and the symbol of Louise de Vilmorin's art.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 99772150190

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 7 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
C
Verified Purchase
Corey Shore
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Great fit & light weight
Size: Large, Color: Green, Size: Large, Color: Green
I was a little worried this wasn’t going to fit my husband. It looked huge. We ordered a size large, he’s typically a medium fit but he has a broad chest/ shoulders. I’m pleased to say that it was a great fit. I steamed it to release the wrinkles without any issues. Exactly as pictured, nice and light weight. Would definitely recommend.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2025
H
Verified Purchase
Hope A
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Great pirate jacket
Size: Medium, Color: Black
Was purchased for a costume and is nicely done. Material is soft and well sown. Looks good one.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026
B
Verified Purchase
Ben
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
It looks ok??
Size: XX-Large, Color: Black
This is not much of a jacket. It's relatively thin and doesn't block a breeze... That being said, the fit is accurate with the size chart. It's not very expensive, but feels like it should be about half this price
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great cosplay jacket
Size: Small, Color: Black, Size: Small, Color: Black
I bought a jacket similar to this about 4 years ago and I absolutely hated it. It was cheaply made and so shiny it could blind a nighttime driver. I needed another one because my son out grew the old one. I hated having to buy what I thought would be another cheap jacket but when it came in, I was shocked. Apparently, I bought from a different maker because this jacket was perfect. Well made. Easily ironed out the wrinkles. This turned out to be the perfect jacket for my son. He loved it. I really love it. Very happy with this purchase. Hopefully, I do not have to buy another one but if I do, it will be this brand. I have saved it in my list just in case I do need to order another. It is so nice. Extremely happy with my purchase.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2025
E
Verified Purchase
Ellen
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Coat is very nice - - I didn't expect it to be as nice as it is!
Size: X-Large, Color: Black
This coat arrived promptly, and I am very pleased with it. Very wrinkled, but it ironed up real nice. My husband is usually in between a Size L and an XL. I ordered an L first and it was too tight, so I returned it and ordered an XL and it was too big, so I would say the sizing is spot-on. I was able to take up the sides enough that it now looks good on him. The fabric and construction seem sturdy. He is wearing it to an Edgar Allan Poe function, and I think he will look fabulous.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2025

recommand products