Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise

Du Deffand, Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise (märē' du vēshē'-shäNrôN' märkēz' dü defäN') [key], 1697–1780, French woman of letters, whose salon was frequented (1753–80) by the leaders of the Enlightenment. She is widely considered the most brilliant woman of her era. Her letters (1766–80) to Horace Walpole, whom she loved deeply, are typical of her brilliant, witty correspondence.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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