A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Agnoult, Countess d'
AGNOULT, COUNTESS D',
Is only known as a writer by the name of Daniel Sterne. Madame Dudevant, a woman of unquestionable, though very ill-directed genius, among other eccentricities, adopted the undignified measure of renouncing her sex, as far as possible, by not only entering the lists of fame under a masculine name, but often assuming masculine apparel. False shows and seemings are always unworthy of a strong or healthy mind; unless there are extraordinary circumstances making concealment for a time justifiable; but for one who might be a champion, to desert his or her party, merely because it is physically the weakest, to appear in the uniform of the more powerful, shows certainly a want of "spirit, taste, and sense." To repeat this unwomanly and senseless proceeding was a fault in Madame d'Agnoult: it has lost even the grace of novelty, and the talent of the authoress—author, if she wish it—causes a regret that she is not satisfied to be herself. This lady belongs to a family of rank, and is distinguished not only for literary abilities, but possesses a fine taste in the arts, "which has been developed by her travels in Italy. Reversing the career of most imaginative writers, she began as a critic—having contributed, in "La Presse" of 1842-43, several articles that attracted much attention. The novel "Nelida," which appeared in 1846, has been received by the reading public with great favour—having been translated into German, English, and Spanish. She has also produced several political and critical essays, besides various romances.