Biography

After graduating from high school, Sagan studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. While she was still studying, she wrote her first novel at the age of 17: "Bonjour Tristesse" was published in 1954 and caused a scandal with its explicit depictions of sex, which soon made her known worldwide as a writer. The writer published under the pseudonym Sagan, which referred to a character in Marcel Proust's novel. She received the Prix de la Critique for her debut novel, which became a bestseller with translations into 22 languages. As a result, Sagan became France's most successful bestselling author, writing more than 40 novels and plays. Her best-known titles include novels such as "Aimez-vous Brahms" (1959), "Les Merveilleux Nuages" (1961), "Un orage immobile" (1983) and "Le Mirroir égaré" (1996).

Some of Sagan's novels have also been made into films. She herself wrote the script for Claude Chabrol's film "Landu" (1963). After her first marriage to the publisher Guy Schöller, Sagan was married to the sculptor Robert Westhoff, with whom she had a son and from whom she also divorced. Due to her excessive lifestyle, Sagan was considered a colorful figure of celebrities and upper society. Gambling, alcohol and drug addictions as well as sometimes serious traffic accidents repeatedly brought them into the headlines of the tabloid press. Sagan also got into trouble with the judiciary because of tax evasion. Since her author's income was seized by the tax authorities, the writer found herself on the verge of financial ruin towards the end of her life.

Françoise Sagan died on September 24, 2004 of a pulmonary embolism in Honfleur, Calvados department.