Marguerite Duras

Pioneering French writer, filmmaker, and essayist known for raw, evocative narratives.

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:
Marguerite Duras
Role / Field:
Pioneering French writer, filmmaker, and essayist known for raw, evocative narratives.
Born:
1914-04-04
Died:
1996-03-03
Century / Era:
1914s Historical Era
Database Source:
2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Marguerite Germaine Marie Donnadieu (French: [maʁɡ(ə)ʁit ʒɛʁmɛn maʁi dɔnadjø], 4 April 1914 – 3 March 1996), known as Marguerite Duras (French: [maʁɡ(ə)ʁit dyʁas]), was a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, and experimental filmmaker. Her script for the film Hiroshima mon amour (1959) earned her a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards. Duras was born Marguerite Donnadieu on 4 April 1914, in Gia Định, Cochinchina, French Indochina (now Vietnam). Her parents, Marie (née Legrand, 1877–1956) and Henri Donnadieu (1872–1921), were teachers from France who likely had met at Gia Định High School.

Key Developments & Impact

They both had previous marriages. Marguerite had two brothers: Pierre, the older, and the younger Paul. Duras' father fell ill and he returned to France, where he died in 1921, when Duras was seven years old. Between 1922 and 1924, the family lived in France while her mother was on administrative leave. They then moved back to French Indochina when she was posted to Phnom Penh followed by Vĩnh Long and Sa Đéc.

Enduring Legacy

The family struggled financially, and her mother made a bad investment in an isolated property and area of rice farmland...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

  1. 1877: 1877 Milestone — Her parents, Marie (née Legrand, 1877–1956) and Henri Donnadieu (1872–1921), were teachers from France who likely had met at Gia Định High School.
  2. 1914 (1914-04-04): Birth of Marguerite Duras — Pioneering French writer, filmmaker, and essayist known for raw, evocative narratives.
  3. 1921: 1921 Milestone — Duras' father fell ill and he returned to France, where he died in 1921, when Duras was seven years old.
  4. 1922: 1922 Milestone — Between 1922 and 1924, the family lived in France while her mother was on administrative leave.
  5. 1959: 1959 Milestone — Her script for the film Hiroshima mon amour (1959) earned her a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
  6. 1996 (1996-03-03): Passing & Historical Legacy — Marguerite Duras passed away on 1996-03-03, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Marguerite Duras

“I am a creature of the word, a wanderer in the landscape of memory.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Marguerite Duras

True or False: “Marguerite Duras' early life was spent entirely within the cultural milieu of Paris, France.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): She was born in Gia Định, Cochinchina, French Indochina (now Vietnam), which significantly shaped her early experiences.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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  • Abdullah Öcalan — Shared historical date (04-04 · Born) (1948): Founder of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and advocate for Kurdish rights.
  • Agha Hashar Kashmiri — Shared historical date (04-04 · Born) (1879): Pioneering Urdu poet, playwright, and dramatist known for Shakespearean adaptations.
  • Alexander Graham Bell — Shared historical date (03-03 · Born) (1847): Pioneering inventor credited with patenting the first practical telephone.
  • Aurangzeb — Shared historical date (03-03 · Died) (1707): Sixth Mughal Emperor who expanded the empire to its greatest extent.
  • 1914 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1914
  • April 4 (04-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 4
  • 1996 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1996
  • March 3 (03-03) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 3

Frequently Asked Questions about Marguerite Duras

Who was Marguerite Duras and what are their primary contributions?

Pioneering French writer, filmmaker, and essayist known for raw, evocative narratives. Origins & Foundations: Marguerite Germaine Marie Donnadieu (French: [maʁɡ(ə)ʁit ʒɛʁmɛn maʁi dɔnadjø], 4 April 1914 – 3 March 1996), known as Marguerite Duras (French: [maʁɡ(ə)ʁit dyʁas]), was a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, and experimental filmmaker. Her script for the film Hiroshima mon amour (1959) earned her a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards. Duras was born Marguerite Donnadieu on 4 April 1914, in Gia Định, Cochinchina, French Indochina (now Vietnam). Her parents, Marie (née Legrand, 1877–1956) and Henri Donnadieu (1872–1921), were teachers from France who likely had met at Gia Định High School.

When was Marguerite Duras born and during which historical era did they live?

Marguerite Duras was born on 1914-04-04 and passed away on 1996-03-03. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the 1914 Chrono-Archive.

Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Marguerite Duras?

Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia