Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873 - 1954)

Born 28 Jan 1873 in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, Yonne, France

Ancestors

Wife of Henri Jean Albert Gauthier-Villars — married 15 May 1893 (to 21 Jun 1910) in Châtillon-sur Loing, Loiret, France

Wife of Bertrand Henri Léon Robert (Jouvenel des Ursins) de Jouvenel des Ursins — married 19 Dec 1912 (to 1923) in Paris XVI, Paris, France

Wife of Maurice Goudeket — married 3 Apr 1935 in Paris VIII, Paris, France

Died 3 Aug 1954 at age 81 in Paris I, Paris, Seine, France

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Biography

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette is Notable.

Colette is a French author, famous for her novels, but who was also a mime, an actress and a journalist. She was openly bisexual.

Family and childhood

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette was born on 28 January 1873 in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye (Yonne), a large village in Burgundy, France. Her father, Captain Jules-Joseph Colette, was a Zouave of the Saint-Cyr military school. Having lost a leg at the battle of Melegnano, he became a tax collector. Gabrielle's mother, Sidonie Landoy (Sido) was a feminist and an atheist.

Colette had three older siblings, a brother and sister from her mother's first marriage, and a brother, Léopold. She had a happy childhood; she was beloved by her her mother who taught her the art of observation in the garden of the house in Saint-Sauveur. Her father taught her French literature and style.

Unfortunately, Sido had extravagant tastes, which led the family to financial ruin. In November of 1891, they moved to Châtillon-sur-Loing.

Marriage with Willy

Colette was still a teenager when she met Henry Gauthier-Villars, nicknamed "Willy". They married on 15 May 1893 in Châtillon-sur-Loing (now Châtillon-Coligny), Loiret. Gabrielle 's witnesses were her brother, Achille Robineau-Duclos, and her maternal uncle, Jules Landoy, 32, of Brussels.

The couple settled in Paris, 55 quai des Grands-Augustins, above a publishing business partly owned by Willy.

Willy soon discovered his wife's literary talents and started to use her as his ghost writer. In 1895, she started writing the "Claudine" series, based on her school memories and published under Willy's signature. In part because of Willy's numerous dalliances, the couple drifted apart. Colette and Willy separated in 1906. The divorce was pronounced on 21 June 1910 by the civil tribunal of the Seine.

After her divorce, Colette, in addition to her work as an author, pursued a career in music-hall. She was a talented, albeit scandalous, mime. She also had a few affairs with women.

Marriage with Henry de Jouvenel

On 19 December 1912, Colette married Henry de Jouvenel in Paris, 16th arrondissement. The following year, at age 40, she had her only child, Colette de Jouvenel, nicknamed Bel-Gazou. Bel-Gazou was born and raised in the castle of Castel Novel, in Varetz, Corrèze, France.

Colette and Henry de Jouvenel divorced in 1923.

Marriage with Maurice Goudeket

Colette met Maurice Goudeket early in 1925. They married ten years later, on 3 April 1935.

Colette suffered of arthritis. She spent most of the occupation in her apartment rue de Beaujolais. She kept on writing near her windows.

Honors

In 1945, Colette was unanimously elected member of the Académie Goncourt. She became president of the Académie in 1949.

In 1952, she appeared as herself in a documentary by Yannick Bellon.

In 1953, Colette was made Grand Officer of the Légion d'Honneur.

Colette died on 3 August 1954. Her husband Maurice (nicknamed "her best friend") was at her side during her last years, helping her to cope with painful polyarthritis.

The Catholic church refused her a religious funeral, but Colette had a national funeral; the first French woman ever to receive this honor. She was buried in Père-Lachaise cemetery.

Sources

• Birth record: Acte #9, Naissances, 2E 368/21- Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye : NMD (1873-1877) - 5Mi 382/5 - Archives Départementales de l'Yonne online. Rassinot-1 16:29, 16 October 2016 (EDT)
• Marriage with Henry de Jouvenel: marginal annotation on birth record.
• Marriage with Maurice Goudeket: marginal annotation on birth record.
• Death: marginal annotation on birth record.
• Marriage with Willy: Marriage record, Acte #7, Mariages 1893-1902, Châtillon-Coligny, 7E 85/2, Archives du Loiret online, Rassinot-1 16:36, 16 October 2016 (EDT)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colette