Colette

by Margaret Crosland

Colette was the writer many critics feel to be France's greatest woman novelist. When she died in 1954, she was the first woman in French history to be granted the honor of a state funeral, and yet the Church would take no part in the ceremony. She was considered a sexually extravagant person who reputedly conducted scandalous affairs with women as well as men, though she persisted in her belief in marriage and wed three times. Margaret Crosland, who knew Colette, has unclouded many of the accepted legends surrounding her subject – what Colette actually thought of her work; her relationship with her domineering but affectionate mother and with her first husband, Willy; her reputed love affair with the well-traveled Marquise de Belboeuf. Colette was a prolific writer and published 73 books. This penetrating biography explores the writer and the woman and demonstrates that Colette's fine literary reputation – so long in the achieving – is well deserved.

Genres: Biography

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very insightful telling of the life of Colette, the famous French author. The author does a wonderful job of explaining the psychology of the author and the reasons for her life choices and artistic output.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting little biography of Colette though I found Earthly Paradise to be more interesting.