Régine Deforges
Encyclopedia
Régine Deforges is a French author, editor, director, and playwright.
Born in Montmorillon
, Vienne
, she is sometimes called the "High Priestess of French erotic literature
." Deforges was the first woman to own and operate a publishing
house in France. Over the years, she has been censored, prosecuted, and heavily fined for publishing "offensive" literature (Louis Aragon
: Irene's Cunt
).
One of her novels, La Bicyclette bleue ("The Blue Bicycle"), published in 1981, was France's biggest bestseller. In 2000, it was made into a television series. A story of love, obsession, and survival set during the turmoil of World War II
, it developed into a successful series of seven books.
She was formerly president of the Société des Gens de Lettres de France and a member of the Prix Femina
jury.
Deforges lives in Paris.
Born in Montmorillon
Montmorillon
Montmorillon is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.The clay mineral montmorillonite was named after Montmorillon after its discovery there in 1847.-External links:*...
, Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
, she is sometimes called the "High Priestess of French erotic literature
Erotic literature
Erotic literature comprises fictional and factual stories and accounts of human sexual relationships which have the power to or are intended to arouse the reader sexually. Such erotica takes the form of novels, short stories, poetry, true-life memoirs, and sex manuals...
." Deforges was the first woman to own and operate a publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
house in France. Over the years, she has been censored, prosecuted, and heavily fined for publishing "offensive" literature (Louis Aragon
Louis Aragon
Louis Aragon , was a French poet, novelist and editor, a long-time member of the Communist Party and a member of the Académie Goncourt.- Early life :...
: Irene's Cunt
Irene's Cunt (Le Con d'Irène)
Irene's Cunt is a short erotic novel written by French poet and novelist Louis Aragon under the pseudonym Albert de Routisie, first published in 1928...
).
One of her novels, La Bicyclette bleue ("The Blue Bicycle"), published in 1981, was France's biggest bestseller. In 2000, it was made into a television series. A story of love, obsession, and survival set during the turmoil of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it developed into a successful series of seven books.
She was formerly president of the Société des Gens de Lettres de France and a member of the Prix Femina
Prix Femina
The Prix Femina is a French literary prize created in 1904 by 22 writers for the magazine La Vie heureuse . The prize is decided each year by an exclusively female jury, although the authors of the winning works do not have to be women...
jury.
Deforges lives in Paris.
Novels and short stories
- O m'a dit ("O Told Me"), conversations with the author of Story of OStory of OStory of O is an erotic novel published in 1954 about love, dominance and submission by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Réage.Desclos did not reveal herself as the author for forty years after the initial publication...
(1975) - Blanche et Lucie ("Blanche and Lucie"), short story about her two grandmothers (Fayard, 1976)
- Le Cahier volé ("The Stolen Folder"), short story partly inspired by a childhood spent at the École Saint-Martial de MontmorillonMontmorillonMontmorillon is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.The clay mineral montmorillonite was named after Montmorillon after its discovery there in 1847.-External links:*...
(Fayard, 1978) - Les Contes pervers ("Perverted Tales"), her first erotic work (1980), later adapted for cinema
- La Révolte des nonnes ("The Nuns' Revolt", Fayard, 1981), adapted for television as L'Enfant des Loups ("Child of Wolves") in 1991
- Les Enfants de Blanche ("Blanche's Children"), a sequel to Blanche et Lucie (1982)
- Sur les bords de la Gartempe ("On the Banks of the GartempeGartempeThe Gartempe is a French river, 205 kilometres long. It is a left tributary of the Creuse River, which it joins in La Roche-Posay. Its source is in the municipality of Peyrabout.Among its tributaries are the Anglin, the Brame and the Semme....
"), comprising Blanche et Lucie, Les Enfants de Blanche and Le Cahier volé - Lola et quelques autres ("Lola and a Few Others"), short story collection (Fayard, 1983)
- L'Orage, ("The Storm", Éditions Blanche, 1986)
- Pour l'amour de Marie Salat ("For Love of Marie Salat", Albin MichelÉditions Albin MichelÉditions Albin Michel is a French publisher. It was founded in 1911 by Albin Michel.-External links:*...
, 1987) - Sous le ciel de Novgorod ("Under the Skies of Novgorod", Fayard, 1989)
- Troubles de femmes ("Women's Troubles"), short story (Éditions Spengler, 1994)
- Journal d'un éditeur ("An Editor's Journal")
- Rencontres ferroviaires ("Railroad Meetings", Fayard, 1999)
- La petite fille au manteau rose ("The Little Girl in the Pink Jacket"), short story in Chemin faisant, a collection of stories set on public transport (Le Serpent à plumes, 2001)
- La Hire, ou la colère de Jeanne ("La HireLa HireÉtienne de Vignolles, called La Hire, was a French military commander during the Hundred Years' War. His nickname of La Hire would be that the English had nicknamed "the Hire-God" . He fought alongside Joan of Arc in the campaigns of 1429...
, or the Fury of Joan"), historical novel about Joan of ArcJoan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the... - Le collier de perles ("The Pearl Necklace", Albin Michel) ISBN 2226155104 / 2006 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF) ISBN 2253117676 :: 2004
La Bicyclette bleue
- 1981 : La Bicyclette bleue ("The Blue Bicycle", Fayard) / 1987 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 1983 : 101, avenue Henri Martin ("No. 101, Henri Martin Avenue", Fayard) / 1987 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 1985 : Le Diable en rit encore ("The Devil's Still Laughing About It", Fayard) / 1988 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 1991 : Noir tango ("Black Tango", Fayard) / 1993 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 1994 : Rue de la Soie ("Silk Road", Fayard) / 1996 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 1996 : La Dernière colline ("The Final Hill", Fayard) / 1999 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 1999 : Cuba libre! ("To the Freedom of Cuba!", Fayard) / 2001 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 2001 : Alger, ville blanche ("Algiers, White City", Fayard) / 2003 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 2003 : Les Généraux du crépuscule ("The Generals of Twilight", Fayard) / 2005 : Le Livre de Poche (LGF)
- 2007 : Et quand vient la fin du voyage ("And When the Trip is Over", Fayard)
Essays
- Entre femmes ("Among Women", Éditions Blanche/Robert LaffontÉditions Robert LaffontÉditions Robert Laffont is a book publishing company in France founded in 1941 by Robert Laffont. Its publications are distributed in almost all francophone countries, but mainly in France, Canada and in Belgium....
1999) - Fragments ("Fragments", France Loisirs, 1997)
- Les Non-dits de Régine Deforges ("My Taboos", Stock, 1997)
- Roger Stéphane ou la passion d’admirer ("Roger Stéphane, or the Drive to Admire", Fayard/Éditions Spengler, 1995)
- Camilo ("Camilo", Fayard, 1999)
Anthologies
- Les Cent plus beaux cris de femmes ("The Hundred Most Beautiful Cries of Women", Cherche-Midi Éditeur, 1980)
- La Chanson d’amour, petite anthologie ("The Love Song", Éditions Mango-Images, 1999)
- Poèmes de femmes ("Poems by Women", Cherche-Midi Éditeur, 1993)
Tales
- Léa au pays des dragons, ("Léa in the Land of Dragons", 1982)
- L’Apocalypse de saint Jean ("The Apocalypse of St John", Éditions Ramsay, 1985)
- L’Arche de Noé de grand-mère ("Grandmother's Noah's Ark", Éditions Calligram, 1995)
- Léa au pays des dragons (réédition par NathanNathanNathan is a masculine given name. It is derived from the Hebrew verb נתן meaning to give . The meaning of the name in Jewish culture could be rendered "he [God] has given" or "he will give".The related name Elnathan could be rendered "Gift of God"...
, 1991) - Léa et les diables ("Léa and the Demons", SeuilÉditions du SeuilÉditions du Seuil is a French publishing house created in 1935, currently owned by La Martinière Groupe. It owes its name to this goal "The seuil is the whole excitement of parting and arriving...
, 1991) - Léa et les fantômes ("Léa and the Ghosts", SeuilÉditions du SeuilÉditions du Seuil is a French publishing house created in 1935, currently owned by La Martinière Groupe. It owes its name to this goal "The seuil is the whole excitement of parting and arriving...
, 1992) - Le Couvent de sœur Isabelle ("The Convent of Sister Isabelle", SeuilÉditions du SeuilÉditions du Seuil is a French publishing house created in 1935, currently owned by La Martinière Groupe. It owes its name to this goal "The seuil is the whole excitement of parting and arriving...
, 1992) - Les Chiffons de Lucie ("Lucie's Scraps", Éditions Calligram, 1993)
- Les Poupées de grand-mère ("Grandmother's Dolls", Stock, 1994)
Filmography
- Les Filles de madame Claude ("The Daughters of Mme Claude", director, 1980)