title: The Secret Lives of Princesses
author:  Philippe Lechermeier 
description: Gr 2-4It is safe to say that this volume, purporting to be a guide to princesses, is unique. It is more catalog than storybook. Lechermeier has invented a variety of eccentric women, such as Princess Barbara of Babel, who "speaks a multitude of languages. All the time." Or Princess Claire Voyant, who "reads tarot cards, tea leaves, palms, even the feet of spiders." Also included are expositions on subjects ranging from four-poster beds to cat-o'-nine-tails and a quiz for would-be princesses. Dautremer illustrates the royal population with lush, fanciful paintings replete with teeny details that, if closely observed, reveal more secrets than the text. A certain sort of child may enjoy the wordplay and sly humor herein, but many will find this wacky compendium more frustrating than fun.<i>Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY</i><br /> Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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  The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan
  
  
    
    
  CHAPTER I. THE LAST WORD OF TWO GREAT COQUETTES  
    
  CHAPTER II. DANIEL D'ARTHEZ  
    
  CHAPTER III. THE PRINCESS GOES TO WORK  
    
  CHAPTER IV. THE CONFESSION OF A PRETTY WOMAN  
    
  CHAPTER V. A TRIAL OF FAITH
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  # The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan
  
  
  ### Honore de Balzac
  
  
  ##### Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEDICATION
  
  
  
  
  
  To Theophile Gautier
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### CHAPTER I. THE LAST WORD OF TWO GREAT COQUETTES
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After the disasters of the revolution of July, which destroyed so many
  
  
  aristocratic fortunes dependent on the court, Madame la Princesse de
  
  
  Cadignan was clever enough to attribute to political events the total
  
  
  ruin she had caused by her own extravagance. The prince left France
  
  
  with the royal family, and never returned to it, leaving the princess
  
  
  in Paris, protected by the fac