Woman's Whims: Or, the Female Barometer

Woman's Whims: Or, The Female Barometer by Xavier Saintine. This English translation presents an epistolary romance originally written in French, translated by Fayette Robinson. The narrative unfolds through a sequence of letters between Edouard Laguet and Cyprien Fournier, with reflections from others, recounting a Parisian financier's fascination with Jenny Bouron, a young Norman woman whose moods are said to resemble the weather—hence the 'female barometer.' Set against mid-19th-century French society, the plot traces romantic intrigue, social propriety, and the psychology of love as Jenny’s temperament influences affection, vows, and family expectations. The story moves from the countryside chateau of Neuville to Parisian salons and Havre, balancing a critique of sensational literature with a humane exploration of desire, jealousy, and fidelity. The translator frames the work as a serious alternative to licentious French fiction, highlighting the original's depth of sentiment and social insight.