Marguerite Yourcenar

Author known for 'Memoirs of Hadrian'

Marguerite Yourcenar - Author known for 'Memoirs of Hadrian'
Born

June 8th, 1903
122 years ago

Died

December 17th, 1987
37 years ago — 84 years old

Category

Artists & Creatives

Country

Belgium

Links & References

Marguerite Yourcenar was a Belgian-French author and poet. She became the first woman elected to the Académie Française in 1980. Yourcenar's literary career spanned several decades, during which she wrote novels, essays, and plays. One of her most significant works, 'Memoirs of Hadrian', published in 1951, is a fictional account of the Roman Emperor Hadrian's life, exploring themes of love, loss, and mortality. The novel received critical acclaim and has been translated into multiple languages, confirming her place in the literary canon. She also gained recognition for her other works, including 'The Abyss', which examined the life of an early Christian philosopher. Yourcenar's evocative prose and deep philosophical insights have continued to resonate with readers worldwide.

Wrote 'Memoirs of Hadrian'

First woman elected to the Académie Française

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