# Colette

> French novelist (1873–1954)

**Wikidata**: [Q218679](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218679)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colette)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colette

## Summary
Colette was a French novelist and writer active from 1873 to 1954. She was a multifaceted artist who also worked as a journalist, actress, and librettist, and was a member of the Académie Goncourt and the Academie Royale de Langue et de littérature Françaises. Her notable works include *Gigi*, *Chéri*, and *La Chatte*.

## Biography
- **Born:** January 28, 1873
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** [Data not available in source material]
- **Known for:** Novels such as *Gigi*, *Chéri*, *La Chatte*, and *Green Wheat*; membership in prestigious literary academies.
- **Employer(s):** Le Figaro
- **Field(s):** Literature, Journalism, Acting

## Contributions
Colette authored several significant literary works, including the novella *Gigi*, the 1933 novel *La Chatte*, the novel *Chéri*, and the 1923 novel *Green Wheat*. Beyond her novels, she contributed to the arts as a librettist, screenwriter, playwright, and short story writer. She was affiliated with the French daily newspaper *Le Figaro* and held memberships in the Académie Goncourt (a literary society founded in 1900) and the Academie Royale de Langue et de littérature Françaises (a national academy for the French language in Belgium founded in 1920).

## FAQs
**What are Colette's most famous works?**
Colette is best known for her novels *Gigi*, *Chéri*, *La Chatte*, and *Green Wheat*.

**What other professions did Colette have besides being a novelist?**
In addition to being a novelist, Colette worked as a journalist, actor, librettist, screenwriter, short story writer, playwright, prose writer, and ghostwriter.

**Was Colette recognized with any awards?**
Yes, she received the rank of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.

**Which literary societies was Colette associated with?**
She was a member of the Académie Goncourt and the Academie Royale de Langue et de littérature Françaises.

## Why They Matter
Colette holds a significant place in French literature as a versatile writer whose works have achieved lasting recognition. Her induction into the Académie Goncourt and the Academie Royale de Langue et de littérature Françaises highlights her esteemed status within the literary community. Her life and work continue to be studied and adapted, evidenced by the 2018 biographical film *Colette* directed by Wash Westmoreland.

## Notable For
- Author of the novella *Gigi*.
- Author of the novel *Chéri*.
- Author of the 1933 novel *La Chatte*.
- Author of the 1923 novel *Green Wheat*.
- Recipient of the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.
- Member of the Académie Goncourt.
- Member of the Academie Royale de Langue et de littérature Françaises.
- Employment with the French daily newspaper *Le Figaro*.
- Subject of the 2018 film *Colette*.

## Body

### Identity and Occupations
Colette, whose full name was Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, was a French novelist born on January 28, 1873, and died on August 3, 1954. Throughout her career, she held a diverse array of occupations, demonstrating a wide-ranging skill set in the arts and letters. She was a novelist, ghostwriter, journalist, librettist, screenwriter, short story writer, playwright, prose writer, and actor. She was also known by the aliases Colette Willy and Sidonie-Gabrielle-Claudine Colette.

### Literary Works
Colette's bibliography includes several prominent titles that have secured her place in literary history. Her notable works include:
*   **Gigi**: A novella by Colette.
*   **Chéri**: A novel by Colette.
*   **La Chatte**: A novel published in 1933.
*   **Green Wheat**: A novel published in 1923.

### Affiliations and Recognition
Colette was deeply integrated into the literary institutions of her time. She was a member of the **Académie Goncourt**, a literary society established in 1900 with headquarters in Paris. Additionally, she was a member of the **Academie Royale de Langue et de littérature Françaises**, a national academy for the French language in Belgium founded on August 19, 1920.

In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the **Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour**, the fourth rank of the French Legion of Honour. Her professional affiliations included employment with **Le Figaro**, a major French daily newspaper founded in 1826.

### Legacy and Media
Colette's influence extends beyond her written works into modern media. Her life served as the inspiration for the 2018 film *Colette*, directed by Wash Westmoreland. Her global presence is further documented through numerous authority control identifiers and library records across various international systems, reflecting the enduring relevance of her work in the literary canon.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. [Biographie](https://www.amisdecolette.fr/colette/biographie/)
4. MEHI – Media Art Database
5. [Source](https://www.humanite.fr/node/260313)
6. The Feminist Companion to Literature in English
7. [The Fine Art Archive](https://cs.isabart.org/person/99163)
8. Deux siècles d'histoire au Père Lachaise
9. Mère Lachaise
10. CiNii Research
11. MusicBrainz
12. [Source](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/Q34471)
13. [Qui était Mathilde de Morny, la maîtresse de Colette ?. Ouest-France. 2023](https://www.ouest-france.fr/culture/livres/lire-magazine/qui-etait-mathilde-de-morny-la-maitresse-de-colette-e661e5ae-a895-11ed-aeeb-69381795ad8f)
14. Colette et Missy, un couple au sein du premier réseau queer
15. [Source](http://www.arllfb.be/composition/successions.html)
16. Léonore database
17. SNAC
18. Internet Broadway Database
19. Enciclopédia Itaú Cultural
20. Find a Grave
21. International Music Score Library Project
22. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
23. filmportal.de
24. FemBio database
25. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
26. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia
27. Médias 19
28. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
29. GeneaStar
30. Babelio
31. Munzinger Personen
32. Roglo
33. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
34. [Source](https://books.openedition.org/pur/12172)
35. [Source](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-476-03702-2_72)
36. nobelprize.org
37. CONOR.SI
38. BBC Things
39. Goodreads
40. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
41. Quora
42. Enciclopedia Treccani
43. [LIBRIS. 2018](https://libris.kb.se/katalogisering/sq4662kb5f6p7hl)
44. Virtual International Authority File
45. [En 2025, l'oeuvre de Colette entre dans le domaine public](https://actualitte.com/article/120974/auteurs/en-2025-l-oeuvre-de-colette-entre-dans-le-domaine-public)
46. performing-arts.ch
47. Media Library for Dance and Theatre
48. [Source](https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=951)
49. Catalogo of the National Library of India