Author. Elsa Trilet was a Russian-born French writer and translator of the 20th century who was the first female author to receive the coveted Prix Goncourt for her novel "Le premier accroc coûte 200 francs." Born Elsa Kagan into a Jewish family in Moscow, she received an excellent education, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Architecture, and spoke fluent German and French. She enjoyed poetry and in 1915 befriended futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. In 1918, she married French cavalry officer André Triolet and emigrated to France. There, she was the first to translate Mayakovsky's writings, as well as volumes of other Russian-language poetry, into French. She later divorced Triolet. In 1928 Elsa met French author Louis Aragon. They married in 1938 and were together for 42 years. She influenced Aragon to join the French Communist Party, and during World War II, they participated in the French anti-fascist resistance movement. In 1944, she was awarded the Prix Goncourt, the first time a woman received this most prestigious prize in French literature. Her novels include "Le cheval blanc", "Personne ne m'aime", "Les Fantômes armées", and "L'Inspecteur des ruines." She died from heart disease. The French postage service has honored her with a stamp three different times.
Author. Elsa Trilet was a Russian-born French writer and translator of the 20th century who was the first female author to receive the coveted Prix Goncourt for her novel "Le premier accroc coûte 200 francs." Born Elsa Kagan into a Jewish family in Moscow, she received an excellent education, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Architecture, and spoke fluent German and French. She enjoyed poetry and in 1915 befriended futurist poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. In 1918, she married French cavalry officer André Triolet and emigrated to France. There, she was the first to translate Mayakovsky's writings, as well as volumes of other Russian-language poetry, into French. She later divorced Triolet. In 1928 Elsa met French author Louis Aragon. They married in 1938 and were together for 42 years. She influenced Aragon to join the French Communist Party, and during World War II, they participated in the French anti-fascist resistance movement. In 1944, she was awarded the Prix Goncourt, the first time a woman received this most prestigious prize in French literature. Her novels include "Le cheval blanc", "Personne ne m'aime", "Les Fantômes armées", and "L'Inspecteur des ruines." She died from heart disease. The French postage service has honored her with a stamp three different times.
Bio by: julia&keld
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