Mlle Berri

aristocratic salon tradition, represented in the first half of the century by the Duchesse du Maine and the Marquise de Lambert, gave way to the circles presided over by grandes bourgeoises: Mme de Tencin, Mme Geoffrin, Mme du Deffand, Mme d’Épinay, Mlle de l’Espinasse and Mme Necker, last of the ‘precious’ salonnières. Each developed her own style and côterie but all provided a forum for writers and philosophes, whom they encouraged and protected. Outside their fixed hours, authors also met in less