Marguerite Antoinette Jeanne Marie Ghislaine Cleenewerck de Crayencour, known to the world by her pen name Marguerite Yourcenar, was a French-Belgian writer and the first woman to be elected to the prestigious Académie Française. Born on June 8, 1903, in Brussels, Belgium, Yourcenar’s life was one of literary brilliance, intellectual rigor, and deep personal exploration. Her work, which spans novels, essays, and translations, is celebrated for its historical depth, philosophical insight, and profound engagement with the human condition.
Early Life and Intellectual Formation
Marguerite Yourcenar was born into a family of French-Belgian nobility. Her father, Michel Cleenewerck de Crayencour, was a wealthy landowner, known for his wide-ranging travels and extensive knowledge. Her mother, Fernande de Cartier de Marchienne, came from Belgian nobility but tragically died just ten days after giving birth to Marguerite due to complications from childbirth.
Raised by her father, Yourcenar’s early education was unconventional but rich in cultural and intellectual stimuli. From a young age, she displayed a prodigious talent for learning, becoming an avid reader of the works of classical authors such as Jean Racine and Aristophanes by the time she was just eight years old. By the age of ten, she had begun learning Latin, and by twelve, she was studying Greek, laying the foundation for her future as a scholar and writer deeply engaged with the classical world.
Her father’s influence was pivotal; he nurtured her intellect and exposed her to a world of literature, art, and travel. Together, they traveled extensively across Europe, visiting places such as southern France, Brussels, Paris, and the Netherlands. These travels played a significant role in shaping Yourcenar’s identity as a cosmopolitan writer and a lifelong traveler.
Early Literary Career and Pseudonym
In 1920, at just 17 years old, Marguerite published her first work, a collection of verses titled Le Jardin des Chimères. This early work was published under the pseudonym “Marg Yourcenar,” an anagram of her real surname, Cleenewerck de Crayencour. The choice of a pseudonym was significant, as it marked her entrance into the literary world on her own terms, distinct from her noble heritage.
Yourcenar continued to write and publish throughout the 1920s and 1930s, with works that reflected her deep engagement with classical and historical themes. Her early novels, such as Alexis ou le traité du vain combat (1929) and Le Coup de grâce (1939), revealed her interest in exploring the complexities of human nature, identity, and morality. These works, characterized by their psychological depth and stylistic precision, established her as a formidable talent in French literature.
One of the most significant periods of Yourcenar’s early career came during her travels in Italy in 1924, where she visited Villa Adriana for the first time. This visit inspired the initial drafts of what would later become her most famous work, Mémoires d’Hadrien (1951). The novel, a fictionalized autobiography of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, would not be completed and published until several decades later, but the seeds were sown during this formative period.
World War II and Life in the United States
The outbreak of World War II marked a turning point in Yourcenar’s life. In 1937, she met Grace Frick, an American intellectual who would become her lifelong companion. With the onset of the war, Yourcenar decided to leave Europe, moving to the United States in 1939. This move was both a means of escaping the turmoil in Europe and an opportunity for Yourcenar to pursue new intellectual and personal horizons.
In the United States, Yourcenar continued to write, although the war years were a time of significant hardship for her. She described this period as “the most difficult of her life,” marked by material deprivation and a sense of isolation from her homeland and cultural roots. Despite these challenges, Yourcenar maintained her commitment to writing, working on what would become her masterpiece, Mémoires d’Hadrien.
During this time, she also took up teaching positions at various institutions, including Sarah Lawrence College. Although she continued to write in French, her time in the United States exposed her to new cultural and intellectual currents, which would influence her later work.
Mémoires d’Hadrien and Literary Acclaim
The publication of Mémoires d’Hadrien in 1951 marked a significant milestone in Marguerite Yourcenar’s career. The novel, presented as the memoirs of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, was an instant success, earning critical acclaim for its historical accuracy, philosophical depth, and lyrical prose. Yourcenar’s portrayal of Hadrian as a thoughtful, introspective ruler, grappling with the responsibilities of power and the inevitability of death, resonated deeply with readers and established her as one of the foremost writers of her time.
Mémoires d’Hadrien is considered a classic of 20th-century literature, praised not only for its masterful recreation of the ancient world but also for its timeless exploration of universal themes such as mortality, love, and the pursuit of knowledge. The novel’s success brought Yourcenar international recognition and cemented her reputation as a writer of profound intellectual and artistic vision.
Following the success of Mémoires d’Hadrien, Yourcenar continued to write and publish works that further explored historical and philosophical themes. In 1968, she published L’Œuvre au noir, a novel set in 16th-century Europe that examines the life of Zeno, a philosopher, and alchemist navigating the turbulent intellectual and political landscape of his time. Like Mémoires d’Hadrien, L’Œuvre au noir was acclaimed for its rich historical detail and its exploration of the human condition.
Personal Life and Later Years
Marguerite Yourcenar’s personal life was marked by her long-term relationship with Grace Frick, whom she met in 1937. Frick played a significant role in Yourcenar’s life, not only as her partner but also as her translator and intellectual collaborator. The two women lived together in the United States, first in New York City and later in a house in Northeast Harbor, Maine, where they led a relatively secluded life dedicated to writing and scholarship.
In the 1970s, Yourcenar and Frick traveled extensively, visiting places such as Japan, India, and Greece. These travels were a source of inspiration for Yourcenar, who continued to explore themes of cultural and spiritual diversity in her work. However, their travels were interrupted by Frick’s declining health. After a long battle with cancer, Grace Frick passed away in 1979, leaving Yourcenar devastated by the loss.
Following Frick’s death, Yourcenar found solace in her work and in her relationship with Jerry Wilson, a young American man with whom she developed a deep bond in the last years of her life. Unfortunately, Wilson’s life was cut short at the age of 36, adding another layer of grief to Yourcenar’s later years.
Despite these personal losses, Yourcenar continued to write and publish. One of her most significant later works was the family trilogy Le Labyrinthe du monde, which includes Souvenirs pieux (1974), Archives du Nord (1977), and Quoi? L’éternité (1988). This trilogy delves into the history of her family and her reflections on memory, history, and the passage of time.
First Woman in the Académie Française
In 1980, Marguerite Yourcenar made history by becoming the first woman elected to the Académie Française, the prestigious French institution responsible for safeguarding the French language and literature. Her election was a landmark event, breaking a 345-year tradition of exclusively male membership. This honor recognized not only her literary achievements but also her contributions to French culture and thought.
Yourcenar’s acceptance into the Académie Française was a significant moment in the history of French literature, symbolizing a broader shift towards the inclusion of women in intellectual and cultural institutions. Her election was widely celebrated as a victory for women writers and for the advancement of gender equality in the arts.
Legacy and Influence
Marguerite Yourcenar’s impact on literature and culture extends far beyond her lifetime. Her works continue to be studied and admired for their intellectual rigor, historical insight, and philosophical depth. As a writer, Yourcenar was deeply engaged with the past, but her explorations of history were always in service of understanding the present and the human condition.
Her novels, essays, and translations reflect a life dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the expression of complex ideas through art. Yourcenar’s ability to weave together historical detail with philosophical inquiry has made her works timeless, appealing to readers across generations and cultures.
Yourcenar’s influence can be seen in the work of later writers who have been inspired by her blending of history, philosophy, and literature. Her legacy as the first woman in the Académie Française also paved the way for future generations of women writers to be recognized and celebrated in the literary world.
Conclusion
Marguerite Yourcenar’s life and work represent a unique confluence of intellect, creativity, and resilience. From her early years as a precocious reader in France to her later life as a celebrated author and the first woman in the Académie Française, Yourcenar’s journey was one of constant exploration—of the world, of ideas, and of the self.
Her literary achievements, marked by works like Mémoires d’Hadrien and L’Œuvre au noir, have left an indelible mark on 20th-century literature. Through her writing, Yourcenar not only brought the past to life but also engaged with the most profound questions of existence, making her one of the most important literary figures of her time.
As a pioneer for women in literature and an enduring voice in the exploration of history and philosophy, Marguerite Yourcenar’s legacy continues to inspire and challenge readers and writers alike. Her contributions to the world of letters remain a testament to the power of literature to transcend time and place, offering insights into the universal human experience.
