On July 1, 1804, this famous female writer was born as Aurore Dupin in Paris. Born into an aristocratic French family descended from Polish royalty, she was only four when her father—an officer in Napoleon’s army—died after falling from a horse. After his death, she was raised by her paternal grandmother in the village of Nohant in central France (now a major tourist attraction).

As a child, young Aurore displayed such an unusual interest in boyish things that her grandmother agreed to let her wear boy’s clothing and engage in activities traditionally off-limits to girls—and thus were sowed the seeds of her lifelong fascination with androgyny.

Only 17 when her grandmother died in 1821, she wedded an aristocratic suitor the following year. It turned out to be a deeply unfulfilling marriage, though, and after 10 unhappy years, she moved to Paris to embark on a literary career.

Shortly after arriving in Paris in 1831, she adopted a masculine nom de plume and experienced immediate success with steamy and sensational novels that featured strong female heroines who were fighting to expand the severely limited roles available to 19th-century women.

She went on to become one of history’s most famous novelists—and one of the most prolific. When she died at age 71 in 1876, she had produced a staggering body of work: over 70 novels, 24 plays, hundreds of short stories and essays, a similar number of poems, a remarkable memoir, and thousands of letters to some of the most famous individuals of the era. As popular in France as Charles Dickens was in England, she was greatly admired by such literary luminaries as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Walt Whitman, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

While few modern readers can cite the titles of any of her literary works, almost everyone is familiar with her audacious—some would say scandalous—lifestyle. In addition to her pen name, she dressed in male attire, smoked cigars, took male as well as female lovers, and could dominate a social setting in a manner that would make the most ambitious male politician envious. Her many lovers included some of the most famous figures of the era, including Chopin, Balzac, Flaubert, and the poet Alfred de Musset. 

Who was this woman?  (Answer below)

Chris keeps busy adding new arrivals on our Instagram account, so keep up with those on @printedpagebookshop.  And remember that on Thursdays, our alert and skilled staff will happily put three acetate dust jacket protectors on three of your books, free of charge.  

 

© 2026 Printed Page Bookshop