Madame de Staël was a French-Swiss author, best known for her novels and political works. She was born in Paris in 1766 and died in 1817. Her most famous works include Corinne, ou l'Italie and De l'Allemagne. She was an influential figure in the Romantic movement and was a major advocate of freedom of speech and expression. She was also a prominent figure in the French Revolution and was exiled from France in 1803.