The Cat

Colette, the creator of Claudine, Cheri, and Gigi, and one of France’s outstanding writers, had a long, varied, and active life. Born in Burgundy in 1873 into a home overflowing with dogs, cats, and children, she was educated at the local village school.

At the age of twenty, she moved to Paris with her first husband, the notorious writer and critic Henry Gauthier-Villas (Willy). By locking her in her room, Willy forced Colette to write her first novels (the Claudine sequence), which he published under his name. They were an instant success.

Colette left Willy in 1906 and worked in music halls as an actor and dancer. She had a love affair with Napoleon’s niece, married twice more, and had a baby at 40 and again at 47. Her writing, which included novels, portraits, essays, and a large body of autobiographical prose, was admired by Proust and Gide.

She was the first woman President of the Académie Goncourt. When she died, aged 81, she was given a state funeral and buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.