COTTIN

cottin, marie [called sophie] (1770-1807), french novelist, _nee_ risteau (not ristaud), was born in paris in 1770. at seventeen she married a bordeaux banker, who died three years after, when she retired to a house in the country at champlan, where she spent the rest of her life. in 1799 she published anonymously her _claire d'albe_. _malvina_ (1801) was also anonymous; but the success of _amelie mansfield_ (1803) induced her to reveal her identity. in 1805 appeared _mathilde_, an extravagant crusading story, and in 1806 she produced her last tale, the famous _elisabeth, ou les exiles de siberie_, the subject of which was treated later with an admirable simplicity by xavier de maistre. sainte-beuve asserted that she committed suicide on account of an unfortunate attachment. this story is, however, unauthenticated. she died at champlan (seine et oise) on the 25th of april 1807. a complete edition of her works, with a notice by a. petitot, was published, in five volumes, in 1817.