2 A “Mistress of Her Own Affairs”: Inhibiting the Widow’s (Sexual) Independence

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vi
3. Acknowledgments vii
4. Introduction 1
5. 1 From Platée’s Frog-Like Flirt to Pompadour’s Yellow Skin: Correcting the Coquette 13
6. 2 A “Mistress of Her Own Affairs”: Inhibiting the Widow’s (Sexual) Independence 42
7. 3 The Price of Independence: Women Seeking Separations 58
8. 4 “Everywhere Our Hearts Are in Danger”: Cupid’s Triumph and the Decline of the Indifferent Mistress 78
9. Epilogue 105
10. Appendix 109
11. Notes 117
12. Bibliography 159
13. Index 179