tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10898244.post4777379208660907350..comments2024-02-03T18:13:42.370-08:00Comments on ricklibrarian: La Dame d'Esprit: A Biography of the Marquis Du Chatelet by Judith Zinsserricklibrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621583568674705756noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10898244.post-6833083890175118932012-05-31T09:55:21.238-07:002012-05-31T09:55:21.238-07:00Interesting topic and book, microscopically but re...Interesting topic and book, microscopically but repeatedly annoying for anyone familiar with French usage. Madame la Marquise du Chatelet (with capital M in Marquise and small-case d in du, not Du, "du" means "of" and is not properly a name; on the other hand, "la marquise..." would not be capitalized) was only called that after she was married. It is annoying to read about her as a child and before her marriage, as "Du Chatelet". (Why not call her Emilie for example when a child - or ascertain what she was called and call her that?) It is also annoying to read about her mother as "Froullay" during those times (this sounds intentionally disrespectful). In general, I would have expected the author of such a book to be more careful about respecting correct usage in the place and time she writes about. These characters are not sports personalities written about by jocks, yet the style of writing is too similar to that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com