Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette was born in rural Burgundy in 1873. At twenty, she married Henry Gauthier-Villars, known as "Willy", a critic, journalist and man of letters, fourteen years older than herself. Soon immersed in his Parisian literary world, she wrote for him the sensational and highly successful Claudine series of novels. But the pair separated in 1906 and were divorced in 1910. Her writing career continued in spite of much turmoil, including spells as a dancer, mime artist and actor. On her death in August 1954, she became the first woman in France to be honoured by a state funeral.