Astrea

work by d’Urfé

Also known as: “L’Astrée”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Astrea is a pastoral romance written by Honoré d'Urfé, a French author. The work, first published in parts between 1607 and 1627, became immensely popular in the 17th century and influenced many subsequent writers.1

The story is set in 5th-century Gaul along the Lignon River and depicts the lives and romantic entanglements of shepherds and shepherdesses. The central plot revolves around the titular characters, Astrée and Céladon, whose love is thwarted by their families' feud.1

Astrea draws inspiration from Spanish and Italian pastoral romances, such as Jorge de Montemayor's Diana. However, d'Urfé's characters are noted for their depth and complexity, making them memorable for generations of readers. The genre of pastoral literature, which Astrea exemplifies, typically presents an idealized view of rural life, free from urban complexities, focusing on themes of love and nature.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Honoré d’ Urfé
…whose pastoral romance L’Astrée (1607–27; Astrea) was extremely popular in the 17th century and inspired many later writers.
Read More
…whose pastoral romance L’Astrée (1607–27; Astrea) was extremely popular in the 17th century and inspired many later writers.
Read More

preciosity
…of his L’Astrée (1607–27; “The Astrea”), a vast pastoral set in the 5th century, was attributable as much to its charming analysis of the phases of love (i.e., chivalrous, mystical) and the corresponding adventures and complications as to its portraits of members of contemporary society.
Read More
…of his L’Astrée (1607–27; “The Astrea”), a vast pastoral set in the 5th century, was attributable as much to its charming analysis of the phases of love (i.e., chivalrous, mystical) and the corresponding adventures and complications as to its portraits of members of contemporary society.
Read More

French literature
Refinement of the French language
…the genre was L’Astrée (1607–27; Astrea) by Honoré d’Urfé. Manners are stylized, settings are conventional, and the plot is highly contrived; but the sentiments of the characters are highly refined, and the psychology of their relationships is sharply analyzed.
Read More
…the genre was L’Astrée (1607–27; Astrea) by Honoré d’Urfé. Manners are stylized, settings are conventional, and the plot is highly contrived; but the sentiments of the characters are highly refined, and the psychology of their relationships is sharply analyzed.
Read More