(''An old mistress'') is an 1851 novel by the French writer

Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly (2 November 1808 – 23 April 1889) was a French novelist, poet, short story writer, and literary critic. He specialised in mystery tales that explored hidden motivation and hinted at evil without being explicitl ...

. It tells the story of a wayward

dandy A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance and personal grooming, refined language and leisurely hobbies. A dandy could be a self-made man both in person and ''persona'', who emulated the aristocratic style of l ...

who falls in love with a young woman but is unable to fully leave his former mistress behind. The book was published by Alexandre Cadot in three volumes, with 327, 316 and 341 pages respectively. It was the basis for the 2007 film '' The Last Mistress'' directed by

Catherine Breillat Catherine Breillat (; born 13 July 1948) is a French filmmaker, novelist and professor of auteur cinema at the European Graduate School. Life and career Breillat was born in Bressuire, Deux-Sèvres, but grew up in Niort. She decided to becom ...

References

1851 French novels French novels adapted into films French-language novels Novels by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly {{Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly