About
Marguerite Yourcenar, born in Brussels in 1903, is a major figure in French literature. Her work, marked by classical erudition and reflection on history and the human condition, earned her international recognition. Her novel 'Memoirs of Hadrian' (1951), a fictional autobiography of the Roman emperor, is considered a masterpiece. In 1980, she became the first woman elected to the Académie française. Settled in the United States with her partner Grace Frick, she taught comparative literature and continued a prolific career until her death in 1987.
* 1903-06-08 — † 1987-12-17
Major works
- Mémoires d'Hadrien (1951)novel
- L'Œuvre au noir (1968)novel
- Souvenirs pieux (1974)autobiography
- Archives du Nord (1977)autobiography
- Quoi ? L'Éternité (1988)autobiography
Key milestones
- 1947Naturalized as a U.S. citizen
- 1980First woman elected to the Académie française
- 1983Awarded the Erasmus Prize for contributions to European culture
Themes
History and memoryHuman conditionIdentity and exilePower and ethicsMeditation on death
Sources: academie-francaise.fr · britannica.com · data.bnf.fr
