Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known as Colette, was born in Burgundy in 1873. Colette's early works appeared under her first husband's pen name, 'Willy'. Although she claimed that she would never have become a writer had it not been for his help, her husband kept almost all the earnings from these successful early novels, leaving Colette in poverty and ill-health following an inevitable divorce. She supported herself in a variety of ways, including acting and miming, but most notably through journalism. Often drawing on her own life, she used her exceptional literary talents to write about love, sexuality and women's lives. A true pioneer, she was one of the most beloved writers of her time, and was elected a Grand Officer of the Lé gion d'honneur. She wrote prolifically until her death in 1954.
