12 Facts About Violette Leduc

Violette Leduc was born in Arras, Pas de Calais, France, on 7 April 1907.

Violette Leduc was the illegitimate daughter of a servant girl, Berthe Leduc, and Andre Debaralle, the son of a rich Protestant family in Valenciennes, who refused to legitimize her.

Violette Leduc developed tender friendships with her grandmother Fideline and her maternal aunt Laure.

Violette Leduc's grandmother died when Leduc was a young child.

In 1925, Violette Leduc embarked on an affair with a supervisor at the College, Denise Hertges, four years her senior.

In 1926, Violette Leduc moved to Paris, along with her mother and stepfather, and enrolled in the Lycee Racine.

Violette Leduc continued to live with Hertges for nine years in the suburbs of Paris.

In 1927, Violette Leduc met Jacques Mercier, seven years her senior, in a cinema.

In 1944, Violette Leduc saw Simone de Beauvoir, and in 1945, Violette Leduc gave Beauvoir a copy of the manuscript of L'Asphyxie.

Violette Leduc went on to write eight more books, including La Folie en tete, the second part of her literary autobiography.

Violette Leduc developed breast cancer and died at the age of 65, after two operations.

Violette Leduc was living at Faucon, Vaucluse, at the time of her death.