Background
She was the daughter of Voltaire"s sister, marrying his material aid Denis in 1737, giving rise to her married name of Madame Denis.
She was the daughter of Voltaire"s sister, marrying his material aid Denis in 1737, giving rise to her married name of Madame Denis.
After her husband"s premature death in 1744, she was taken in by Voltaire and became his housekeeper, hostess and companion. She also adopted his protégée Reine Philiberte de Varicourt when the latter"s marriage to the marquis de Villette foundered on his homosexuality. However, preferring Paris society, she sold off the château to move back to Paris.