Isabelle de Charrière, (20 October 1740 - 27 December 1805) known as Belle van Zuylen in the Netherlands and Madame de Charrière elsewhere, is a Dutch-born writer of the Enlightenment who lived the latter half of her life in Switzerland. She is now best known for her letters although she also wrote novels, pamphlets and plays. She took a keen interest in the society and politics and her work around the time of the French Revolution is regarded as...
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Isabelle de Charrière, (20 October 1740 - 27 December 1805) known as Belle van Zuylen in the Netherlands and Madame de Charrière elsewhere, is a Dutch-born writer of the Enlightenment who lived the latter half of her life in Switzerland. She is now best known for her letters although she also wrote novels, pamphlets and plays. She took a keen interest in the society and politics and her work around the time of the French Revolution is regarded as being of particular interest.
Isabella Agneta Elisabeth van Tuyll van Serooskerken was born in Castle Zuylen near Utrecht in the Netherlands, to Diederik Jacob van Tuyll van Serooskerken (1707 - 1776), and Helena Jacoba de Vicq (1724 - 1768). Her parents were described by the British author James Boswell as "one of the most ancient noblemen in the Seven Provinces" and "an Amsterdam lady, with a great deal of money". Isabelle was the eldest of seven children.
In 1750, Isabelle was sent to Geneva and travelled through Switzerland and France....
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