Florville and Courval Summary

Florville and Courval is a short novel recounting the story of Florville, a woman who is thirty-six years old that is being courted by an older man, Monsieur de Courval. Courval is fifty-five years old and has made a small fortune in business.

Courval is a widower whose wife died after leaving him for a life of "libertinage." He had two children with his former wife, a daughter who died at a young age, and a son, who, like his mother, left him for a life of debauchery. He hopes to remarry and have more children on whom he can bestow his estate.

He learns of a charming woman, Mademoiselle de Florville, who is highly recommended by a friend for her beauty and religious piety. She has two drawbacks, however, his friend tells him. She is not wealthy, but...