A liberal aristocrat and prolific author, Genlis' novel is considered among the best of the genre of emigres novels and is political in nature. It consists of an exchange of letters and discusses the horrors of the French Revolution. The narrative explores the space between excessive democracy and narrow aristocratic opinion. It is a clear response to the popular child novel of the time, written by a veteran of ancien regime novel writing. ("The Family Romance of the French Revolution" by Lynn Hunt). The former owner is likely Margaret, Countess Poulett (née Burges), d. 1838, 2nd wife of 4th Earl Poulett. French text.
