Nicolas Chorier

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1757 Latin edition of The School of Women
1757 Latin edition of The School of Women

Nicolas Chorier (September 1, 1612–August 14, 1692) was a French lawyer, writer, and historian. He is known especially for his historical works on Dauphiné, as well as his erotic dialogue called The School of Women, or The Seven Flirtatious Discussions with Alosia (French: L'Academie des dames, ou les Sept entretiens galants d'Alosia).

He was born in Vienne, Isère, a lawyer in Grenoble and then a prosecutor for the king. His works on Dauphiné remain an important source for historians to this day.

Contents

[edit] The School of Women

The School of Women first appeared as a work in Latin entitled Aloisiae Sigaeae, Toletanae, Satyra sotadica de arcanis Amoris et Veneris. This manuscript claimed that it was originally written in Spanish by Luisa Sigea de Velasco, an erudite poetess and maid of honor at the court of Lisbon and was then translated into Latin by Jean or Johannes Meursius, a humanist born in Leiden, Holland in 1613. The attribution to Sigea was a lie and Meursius was a complete fabrication. The manuscript circulated through the libertine community at the beginning of the eighteenth century and was known in Latin under many different titles. It was translated into French many times, including one translation by Jean Terrasson in 1750, and was also translated into English.

The book is written in the form of a series of dialogues with Tullia, a twenty-six year-old Italian woman, the wife of Callias, who is charged with the sexual initiation of her young cousin, Ottavia, to whom she declares, "You mother asked to reveal to you the most mysterious secrets of bridal bed and to teach you what you must be with your husband, which your husband will also be, touching these small things which so strongly inflame men's passion. This night, so that I can indoctrinate you in all of this liberated language, will sleep together in my bed, which I would like to be able to say will have been the softest of Venus's lace."[1]

[edit] Other works

  • The Research of Sire Chorier on the history of the city of Vienne, metropolis of Allobroges (French: Les recherches du sieur Chorier sur les antiquitez de la ville de Vienne, métropole des Allobroges) (1658).
  • Genealogical History of the House of Sassenage, related to the counts of Lion and of Forests (French: Histore généalogique de la maison de Sassenage, branche des anciens comtes de Lion et de Forests) (1669).
  • The Political State of the Province of Dauphiné, supplement to the Political State of the Country of Dauphiné (French: L’Estat politique de la province de Dauphiné, supplément à l’Estat politique du pays de Dauphiné) (1671–72).
  • History of Dauphiné, abridged for His Royal Highness the Dauphin (French: Histoire de Dauphiné, abrégée pour monseigneur le Dauphin) (1674)
  • The Nobility of the Province of Dauphiné (French: Le Nobiliaire de la province de Dauphiné) (1697)
  • Life of Artus Prunier of Saint-André, Adviser to the King in his Council of State and Private, First President of the Parliaments of Provence and Dauphiné (1548–1616), based on a Manuscript by Nicolas Chorier, published with an Introduction, Notes, Appendices, and the unedited Correspondence of Saint-André by Alfred Vellot (French: Vie d'Artus Prunier de Saint-André, conseiller du Roy en ses conseils d'Estat et privé, premier président aux parlements de Provence et de Dauphiné (1548-1616), d'après un manuscrit inédit de Nicolas Chorier, publié avec introduction, notes, appendices et la correspondance inédite de Saint-André) (1880)
  • Memoirs of Nicolas Chorier on his life and affairs, translated from three books in Latin inserted into the fourth volume of the "Bullitin of the Statistical Society of the Department of Isère" by Félix Crozet (French: Mémoires de Nicolas Chorier sur sa vie et ses affaires, traduits des trois livres en texte latin insérés dans le 4e volume du « Bulletin de la Société de statistique du département de l'Isère ») (1868)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ In French, "Ta mère m'a demandé de te découvrir les secrets les plus mystérieux du lit nuptial et de t'apprendre ce que tu dois être avec ton mari, ce que ton mari sera aussi, touchant ces petites choses pour lesquelles s'enflamment si fort les hommes. Cette nuit, pour que je puisse t'endoctriner sur tout d'une langue plus libre, nous coucherons ensemble dans mon lit, dont je voudrais pouvoir dire qu'il aura été la plus douce lice de Vénus."

[edit] References