List of French women writers

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This is a list of women writers who were born in France or whose writings are closely associated with that country.

A

• Juliette Adam (1836–1936), novelist, non-fiction writer, magazine editor
• Marie d'Agoult, pen name Daniel Stern (1805–1876), novelist, essayist, history writer
• Anne-Marie Albiach (1937–2012), poet, translator
• Hortense Allart (1801–1879), feminist writer, essayist
• Almucs de Castelnau (12th century), troubadour poet writing in Occitan
• Catherine d'Amboise (1475–1550), semi-autobiographical novelist, poet
• Virginie Ancelot (1792–1875), painter, playwright
• Christine Angot (born 1959), novelist, playwright
• Azalaïs d'Arbaud (1834-1917), Occitan-language writer
• Sophie d'Arbouville (1810–1850), poet, short story writer
• Catherine Arley, pen name of Pierrette Pernot (born 1924), novelist, actress
• Angélique Arnaud (1799–1884), novelist, essayist, feminist
• Madeleine de l’Aubespine (1546–1596), poet, literary patron, one of the earliest female erotic poets
• Gwenaëlle Aubry (born 1971), novelist, philosopher, non-fiction writer
• Colette Audry (1906–1990), novelist, screenwriter, critic
• Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy (c. 1650–1705), writer of fairy tales, historical novels
• Azalais de Porcairagues (12th century), Occitan-language troubadour

B

• Tristane Banon (born 1979), novelist, journalist, television presenter
• Arvède Barine (1840–1908), non-fiction writer, historian, literary critic
• Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972), American-born poet, playwright, novelist, wrote mainly in French
• Sophie Bawr (1773–1860), playwright, non-fiction writer
• Fanny de Beauharnais (1737–1813), poet, novelist, playwright, salonist
• Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986), novelist, essayist, existentialist philosopher, feminist
• Béatrix Beck (1914–2008), novelist, short story writer, poet, of Belgian origin
• Alice Becker-Ho (born 1941), poet, non-fiction writer
• Claude de Bectoz (1490–1547), poet, letter writer
• Maud de Belleroche (born 1922), best-selling novelist, memoirist, biographer
• Juliette Benzoni (born 1920), novelist
• Catherine Bernard (1662–1712), poet, playwright, novelist
• Paulette Bernège (1896–1973), journalist, housework specialist, prolific non-fiction writer
• Emmanuèle Bernheim (born 1955), novelist, screenwriter
• Carmen Bernos de Gasztold (1919–1995), poet
• Louise Bertin (1805–1877), composer, poet
• Mireille Best (1943-2005), novelist, often featuring lesbian characters
• Nella Bielski (born 1930s), Ukrainian-born French novelist, actress
• Gisèle Bienne (born 1946), novelist, writer for young adults
• Raphaële Billetdoux (born 1951), novelist
• Marie-Claire Bancquart (born 1932), poet, essayist, critic, educator
• Marie Bonaparte-Wyse (1831–1902), novelist, playwright
• Catherine de Bourbon (1559–1604), princess, poet, letter writer
• Sarah Bouyain (born 1968), novelist, film director
• Nina Bouraoui (born 1967), novelist
• Marie-Anne de Bovet (1855-?), novelist, journalist
• Anne-Sophie Brasme (born 1984), novelist
• Geneviève Brisac (born 1951), novelist, short story writer, children's writer, critic, screenwriter
• Josette Bruce (1920–1996), Polish-born novelist
• Andrée Brunin (1937–1993), poet, many works set to music

C

• Claude Cahun(1894-1854), poet, novelist, photograph, essayist, translator, résistante
• Nina de Callias (1843–1884), poet, salonist
• Amélie-Julie Candeille (1767–1834), composer, librettist, playwright
• Marie Cardinal (1929–2001), novelist
• Castelloza (13th century), troubadour poet
• Claire Castillon (born 1975), novelist, playwright
• Anne-Marie Cazalis (1920–1988), journalist, poet, essayist, novelist, actress
• Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force (1654–1724), successful novelist, poet, memoirist
• Françoise Chandernagor (born 1945), novelist, playwright
• Edmonde Charles-Roux (born 1920), novelist, journalist, photographer
• Noëlle Châtelet (born 1944), essayist, novelist, short story writer, educator
• Chantal Chawaf (born 1943), novelist, essayist
• Madeleine Chapsal (born 1925), novelist, poet, critic
• Élisabeth Sophie Chéron (1648–1711), painter, poet, translator
• Maryse Choisy (1903–1979), philosopher, novelist, non-fiction writer
• Hélène Cixous (born 1937), Algerian-born French novelist, poet, playwright, philosopher, critic, feminist writer
• Catherine Clément (born 1939), philosopher, novelist, feminist, critic
• Gabrielle de Coignard (1550–1586), religious poet
• Louise Colet (1810–1876), poet, novelist, salonist
• Colette (1873–1954), novelist, author of Gigi
• Henriette de Coligny de La Suze (1618–1673), poet
• Anne-Hyacinthe de Colleville (1761–1824), novelist, playwright
• Danielle Collobert (1940–1978), poet, novelist, short story writer, journalist
• Sophie Ristaud Cottin (1770–1807), novelist, several historical novels
• Hélisenne de Crenne (1510–1552), novelist, epistolary writer, translator
• Pauline Marie Armande Craven (1808–1891), non-fiction writer

D

• Gilberte H. Dallas, pen name of Gilberte Herschtel (1918-1960), poet, important member of the poètes maudits
• Marie Darrieussecq (born 1969), novelist
• Countess Dash, pen name of Gabrielle Anne Cisterne de Courtiras, vicomtesse de Saint-Mars (1804–1872), novelist
• Régine Deforges (1935–2014), novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright
• Alix Delaporte (born 1969), film director, screenwriter
• Lucie Delarue-Mardrus (1874–1945), poet, novelist, journalist
• Florence Delay (born 1941), novelist, essayist, playwright, translator, actress
• Lucie Delarue-Mardrus (1874–1945), journalist, poet, novelist, sculptor
• Sylvie Denis (born 1963), novelist, magazine editor, translator
• Maria Deraismes (1828–1894), playwright, essayist, women's rights activist
• Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786–1859), poet, novelist
• Antoinette Des Houlières (1638–1694), poet
• Marie-Anne Desmarest (1904–1973), novelist
• Catherine Des Roches (1542–1587), Renaissance poet, daughter of Madelaine Des Roches
• Madeleine Des Roches (c.1520–1587), Renaissance poet, mother of Catherine Des Roches
• Madeleine Desroseaux (1873–1939), Breton poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer
• Jeanne Deroin (1805–1894), journalist, women's activist after the Revolution
• Dominique Desanti (1920–2011), journalist, novelist, biographer, educator
• Agnès Desarthe (born 1966), children's writer, novelist
• Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786–1859), poet
• Maryline Desbiolles (born 1959), novelist
• Anne Desclos (1907–1998), journalist, novelist, translator
• Madeleine Desroseaux (1873–1939), Breton-language poet, novelist
• Régine Deforges (1935–2014) best-selling novelist, editor, director, playwright, known for her erotic works
• Antoinette Deshoulières (1638–1694), poet
• Virginie Despentes (born 1969), novelist, autobiographical works
• Marie Desplechin (born 1959), successful novelist, children's writer
• Jane Dieulafoy (1851–1916), archaeologist, novelist, journalist
• Geneviève Dormann (1933–2015), journalist, novelist
• Pernette Du Guillet (c.1520–1545), Renaissance poet
• Caroline Dubois (born 1960), poet
• Charlotte Dubreuil (born 1940), novelist, filmmaker, screenwriter
• Catherine Dufour (born 1966), novelist
• Claire de Duras (1777–1828), novelist, author of Ourika
• Marguerite Duras (1914–1996), novelist, playwright, screenwriter of Hiroshima mon amour
• Vanessa Duriès (1972–1993), novelist, author of The Ties That Bind

E

• Françoise d'Eaubonne (1920–2005), feminist essayist, science fiction novelist
• Annie Ernaux (born 1940), autobiographical novelist
• Claire Etcherelli (born 1934), novelist

F

• Geneviève Fauconnier (1886–1969), novelist
• Madame de La Fayette (1634–1693), novelist, author of La Princesse de Clèves
• Amanda Filipacchi (born 1967), French-born American novelist
• Adelaide Filleul (1761–1836), novelist, one of the most distinguished writers of her times
• Zénaïde Fleuriot (1829–1890), prolific novelist writing for young women
• Pierrette Fleutiaux (born 1941), novelist, short story writer
• Brigitte Fontaine (born 1939), singer, novelist, playwright, poet
• Viviane Forrester (1925–2013), essayist, novelist, critic
• Jocelyne François (born 1933), lesbian novelist, poet, diairist

G

• Jeanne Galzy (1883–1977), novelist, biographer
• Anne-Marie Garat (born 1946), novelist
• Anne F. Garréta (born 1962), novelist
• Judith Gautier (1845–1917), poet, historical novelist, playwright, translator, music critic
• Anna Gavalda (born 1970), best-selling novelist, short story writer, works widely translated
• Sophie Gay (1776–1882), novelist, playwright, librettist
• Stéphanie Félicité, comtesse de Genlis (1746–1830), novelist, playwright, children's writer
• Rosemonde Gérard (1871–1953), poet, playwright
• Sylvie Germain (born 1954), novelist, essayist, biographer
• Amélie Gex (1835–1883), poet, also wrote in Franco-Provençal
• Delphine de Girardin (1804–1855), essayist, poet, novelist
• Anne Golon (born 1921), novelist, author of the Angélique series of historical novels
• Mélanie Gouby (active since 2011), journalist
• Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793), playwright, feminist writer, executed after the Revolution
• Marie de Gournay (1585–1645), novelist, essayist, critic
• Françoise de Graffigny (1695–1758), novelist, playwright
• Évelyne Grandjean (born 1939), actress, playwright, screenwriter
• Henry Gréville, pen name of Alice Durand (1842–1902), widely translated novelist
• Benoîte Groult (born 1920), novelist, feminist
• Claudine Guérin de Tencin (1682–1749), literary patron, novelist, letter writer
• Pernette du Guillet (c. 1520–1545), poet, most of her works intended to be set to music as songs

H

• Béatrice Hammer (born 1963), novelist, children's writer, playwright
• Mireille Havet (1898–1932), poet, diarist, novelist
• Nathalie Henneberg (1910–1977), science fiction novelist
• Catherine Hermary-Vieille (born 1981), novelist

J

• Paula Jacques (born 1949), Egyptian-born French novelist, journalist, radio host
• Gaëlle Josse (born 1960), poet, novelist

K

• Fabienne Kanor (born 1970), journalist, novelist, filmmaker
• Maylis de Kerangal (born 1967), novelist
• Thérèse Kuoh-Moukouri (born 1938), Cameroon-born French novelist, essayist

L

• Anne de La Roche-Guilhem (1644–1710), novelist, moved to England
• Sylvie Lainé (born 1957), science fiction novelist, short story writer
• Jeanne Lapauze (1860–1920), born Jeanne Loiseau, poet, novelist, used the pen name Daniel Lesueur [[see: Loiseau at www.daniel-lesueur.com (1854-1921) <<french version>>]]
• Camille Laurens (born 1957), novelist
• Linda Lê (born 1963), Vietnamese-born French novelist
• Simone Le Bargy (1877–1985), actress, novelist, memoirist
• Martine Le Coz (born 1955), novelist, poet, non-fiction writer
• Violette Leduc (1907–1972), best-selling novelist, autobiographer
• Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont (1711–1780), novelist, fairy tale writer, author of Beauty and the Beast

M

• Jeanne Marni (1854–1910), novelist, playwright, essayist
• Anne de Marquets (c. 1533–1588), religious poet, nun, author of Les Sonets spirituels
• Sophie Massieu (born 1975), journalist
• Renée Massip (1907–2002), novelist, journalist
• Meavenn, pen name of Francine Rozec (1911–1992), Breton-language poet, novelist, playwright
• Natacha Michel (born 1941), political activist, novelist, critic
• Jane Misme (1865–1935), journalist, feminist
• Ursule Molinaro (1916–2000), French-American novelist, playwright, translator, wrote in French and English

N

• Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549), poet, playwright, short story writer, author of the short story collection Heptaméron
• Marie NDiaye (born 1967), novelist, playwright
• Anna de Noailles (1876–1933), highly acclaimed novelist, poet, autobiographer
• Florence Noiville (born 1961), journalist, children's writer, novelist, non-fiction writer

O

• Véronique Olmi (born 1962), novelist, playwright, short story writer

P

• Katherine Pancol (born 1954), best-selling novelist, journalist, author of Les Yeux jaunes des crocodiles (The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles)
• Madeleine Pelletier (1874–1939), feminist writer
• Georges de Peyrebrune (1841–1917), prolific novelist, columnist, feminist
• Anne Plichota (born 1969), children's writer, novelist
• Aliénor de Poitiers(15th century), writer on court etiquette

R

• Rachilde, pen name of Marguerite Vallette-Eymery (1860–1953), novelist, non-fiction writer, author of Monsieur Vénus
• Marie Redonnet, pen name of Martine L'hospitalier (born 1948), poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, playwright
• Christine Renard (1929–1979), science fiction novelist
• Yasmina Reza (born 1959), plywright, novelist, actress, screenwriter, author of God of Carnage
• Marie Jeanne Riccoboni (1714–1792), novelist, editor
• Catherine Rihoit (born 1950), novelist, biographer
• Christine de Rivoyre (born 1921), novelist, journalist
• Antoinette Henriette Clémence Robert (1797–1872), novelist, playwright
• Nina Roberts (born 1979), erotic novelist, actress
• Tatiana de Rosnay (born 1961), journalist, best-selling novelist, screenwriter,
• Marie-Anne de Roumier-Robert (1705–1771), early science fiction novelist
• Pascale Roze (born 1954), playwright, novelist, author of Sarah's Key (Elle s'appelait Sarah)

S

• Françoise Sagan (1935–2004), playwright, novelist, screenwriter, author of Bonjour Tristesse
• Vefa de Saint-Pierre (1872–1967), explorer, reporter, Breton-language poet, children's writer
• Lydie Salvayre (born 1948), novelist, works widely translated
• George Sand (1804–1876), novelist, playwright, author of Indiana
• Nathalie Sarraute (1900–1999), Russian-born French novelist, pioneer of the nouveau roman
• Simone Schwarz-Bart (born 1938), Guadeloupian-French novelist, playwright, non-fiction writer
• Ann Scott (born 1965), novelist, short story writer
• Madeleine de Scudéry (1607–1701), novelist, works containing lengthy conversations
• Countess of Ségur (1799–1874), Russian-born French novelist, children's writer
• Eulalie de Senancour (1791–1876), journalist, novelist, children's writer
• Coline Serreau (born 1947), actress, film director, playwright, essayist
• Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné (1626–1696), letter writer
• Shan Sa, pen name of Yan Ni (born 1972), Chinese-born French poet, novelist, painter, now writing in French
• Germaine de Staël, also Madame de Staël (1766–1817), essayist, novelist, non-fiction writer, salonist
• Louise Swanton Belloc (1796–1881), translator, essayist, novelist, non-fiction writer, children's book writer, feminist

T

• Tibors de Sarenom (12th century), troubadour poet, writing in Occitan
• Chantal Thomas (born 1945), historian, novelist
• Édith Thomas (1909–1970), novelist, historian, journalist
• Gilles Thomas, pen name of Éliane Taïeb (1929–1985), science fiction novelist
• Annette Tison (born 1942), architect, children's writer, co-creator of Barbapapa
• Valerie Toranian (born 1962), journalist, editor of Elle
• Nicole Tourneur (1950–2011), novelist, children's writer
• Elsa Triolet (1896–1970), Russian-born French novelist, first women to win the Prix Goncourt, wrote in Russian and French
• Flora Tristan (1803–1844), socialist writer, feminist

V

• Valérie Valère (1961–1981), best selling autobiographical novelist
• Fred Vargas, pen name of Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau (born 1957), best-selling crime fiction writer, historian
• Delphine de Vigan (born 1966), best-selling novelist, author of No et moi translated into 20 languages
• Marie-Catherine de Villedieu (1640–1683), playwright, novelist, short story writer
• Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve (c.1695–1755), novelist, fairy tale writer, author of Belle et la Bête
• Louise Lévêque de Vilmorin (1902–1969), novelist, poet, journalist
• Renée Vivien (1877–1909), British-born French-language poet, often writing autobiographical verse
• Élisabeth Vonarburg (born 1947), science-fiction novelist

W

• Simone Weil (1909–1943), philosopher, non-fiction works
• Anne Wiazemsky (born 1947), German-born French novelist, actress
• Joëlle Wintrebert (born 1949), science fiction novelist, children's writer
• Monique Wittig (born 1935), novelist, playwright, feminist writer
• Cendrine Wolf (born 1969), children's writer, collaborates with Anne Plichota

Y

• Marguerite Yourcenar (1903–1987), novelist and essayist

Z

• Léontine Zanta (1872–1942), novelist, feminist

See also

• List of French-language authors
• List of women writers