The Transvestite Memoirs & The Story of The: Marquise-Marquis de Banneville [Paperback]

Abbe de Choisy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 1994

This remarkable document in the history of transvestism provides a first-hand account of manners and morals in late seventeenth century French society. In a light, intimate style praised by Sainte-Beuve, Choisy recounts his scandalous and entertaining escapades as a transvestite. Reared as a girl by his ambitious mother, the young Choisy dressed in girls' clothes, wore earrings, and was much admired by Louis XIV's homosexual transvestite brother. As the abbot of Saint Seine, Choisy continued to delight in extravagantly feminine attire and in the seduction of young girls, often with the unsuspecting assistance of their parents. A most fantastic and fascinating case; his erotic masquerade is the stuff of adult fairy tales."" - Marina Warner.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Peter Owen Ltd (November 25, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0720609151
• ISBN-13: 978-0720609158
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,988,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sweet Transvestite, January 10, 2001

By 

a reader (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Transvestite Memoirs & The Story of The: Marquise-Marquis de Banneville (Paperback)

This edition of the Abbe de Choisy's Memoirs includes four autobiographical fragments, a short story entitled "The Story of the Marquise-Marquis De Banneville," and a brief but interesting essay on transvestism by Jeremy Reed. In the Memoirs, Choisy delights in describing his various adornments, giving detailed descriptions of his dresses, jewelry, hairstyles, and "patches" (beauty spots). He also tells all about his many love affairs with women. These erotic encounters are described with subtlety, but are no less risque for that. Always the exhibitionist, Choisy's philosophy of love and beauty infuses the whole book: that beauty inspires love and that we always love ourselves more than we love others. After reading the Memoirs, it is easy to see that Choisy's short story is his personal erotic fantasy. Reading the Memoirs first will certainly eliminate the element of surprise in the story. I would recommend reading this charming story before the memoirs, for it is the highlight of the book and should be enjoyed to the fullest. Finally, Reed makes some informative comments on the social meaning of transvestism in his afterword and the translator provides a useful cultural context (late seventeenth century France) in his introduction.

5.0 out of 5 stars A priest who's (fortunately) not been de-frocked..., September 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Transvestite Memoirs & The Story of The: Marquise-Marquis de Banneville (Paperback)

A fascinating glimpse into the mind & adventures of a 17th-century French gender-bender. A cleric with a taste for dresses, (innumerable) beauty spots, and young girls dressed as men, Choisy romps and minces his way through his memoirs, seducing young ladies as well as his readers. His short story about the Marquise-Marquis de Banneville is similarly enjoyable, if a tad less dodgy. The twist in the tale is perhaps a bit predictable, but, well, we can't expect anything too gay to be published in 17th century France...