"Mademoiselle de Montpensier : Writing, Ch粺teaux, and Female Self-Construction in Early Modern France examines questions of self-construction in the works of Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orl歋ans, Duchesse de Montpensier (1627-1693), the wealthiest unmarried woman in Europe at the time, a pro-women advocate, author of memoirs, letters and novels, and the commissioner of four ch粺teaux and other buildings throughout France, including Saint-Fargeau, Champigny-sur-Veude, Eu, and Choisy-le-roi. An NEH-funded project, this study explores the interplay between writing and the symbolic import of ch粺teaux to examine Montpensier's strategies to establish herself as a woman with autonomy and power in early modern France"--Provided by publisher.