Épinay, Louise Florence Pétronille (de Tardieu d'Esclavelles) La Live d'

Épinay, Louise Florence Pétronille (de Tardieu d'Esclavelles) La Live d' lwēz flôräNs´ pātrōnē´yə də tärdyö´ dāklävĕl´ lä lēv dāpēnā´ [key], 1726–83, French woman of letters. Influential in the Enlightenment , she was the friend of many of its leaders, especially Melchior Grimm , her literary heir, and Diderot . She was Rousseau 's benefactress until 1757, when they quarreled, and subsequently they attacked each other in their writings. She wrote a treatise on the education of girls, Les Conversations d'Émilie (pub. 1775 though volume bears date 1774). Her memoirs and correspondence (1818, tr. 1897, 1930) give a vivid account of her circle.

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