Marie Madeleine Jodin 1741–1790 : Actress, Philosophe and Feminist

The life of Marie-Madeline Jodin offers new pespectives on the world of 18th century women, on the feuds and politics of European court theatres and entailing the discovery of an important, previously unknown, French feminist.

Central to Jodin's story is her relationship with Diderot.

The friendship between the young actress and the Enlightenment philosopher was recorded in a series of letters written to her by Diderot between 1765 and 1769.

Jodin's character strongly emerge from his letters. Other sources reveal her life as one of dramatic contrasts: a devestating upbringing; an agonizing relationship with her father and a love-hate relationship with her mother; an early adult life in the back streets of Paris and its prisons; a brief, successful career in court theatre; a growing participation in the intellectual culture of the emerging Republic of Letters; and, finally, authorship of "Legislative Views for Women".

Marie-Madeline Jodin's life provides an insight into the life of the upwardly mobile 18th century woman.

It also provides insight into the political and civil marginalization of socially excluded groups, such as Protestants, actors and prostitutes.