Antoinette du Ligier de La Garde Des Houlières

Des Houlières, Antoinette du Ligier de La Garde (1638-94). It was logical that Des Houlières should have been the recipient of the first prize for poetry ever awarded by the Académie Française (in 1671). She was the most highly regarded contemporary lyric poet. She composed in many genres, from songs to tragedies, but was best known for her pastoral poetry. Her most moving poems are frank, personal evocations of the ageing process. She frequented the salons and first published in the Mercure galant. Her tone often evokes La Rochefoucauld's philosophy of detachment; like him, she never forgot the ideals of the Fronde.

[Joan Dejean]