Les caquets de l'accouchée (French)

"Les caquets de l'accouchée" by Edouard Fournier and Le Roux de Lincy is a satirical work written in the early 17th century. This collection captures the humorous and often pointed conversations of women gathered to visit an accouchée (a woman who has recently given birth), illustrating the customs, gossip, and societal norms of the time. It reflects on the behavior, preoccupations, and class dynamics of bourgeois Parisian women, serving as both entertainment and social commentary. The opening of the text establishes a vivid scene set in an accouchée's chamber where various women gather, each representing different social standings, anxieties, and desires. As they engage in lively banter, complaints about the state of marriage, the burdens of childbirth, and the gossip surrounding affluent households unfold.