Marguerite Donnadieu (
April 4,
1914 -
1996), better known as
Marguerite Duras, was a writer.
She was born in Indochina and went to France, her parents' native country, to study law, but became a writer instead.
She is the author of a great many novels, plays, films and short narratives, including her best-selling, ostensibly autobiographical work L'Amant (1984), translated into English as The Lover. Following the making of a film of the same name(s) based on her work, Duras then published a slightly different work, L'Amant de la Chine du Nord. Other major works include Moderato Cantabile[?], also made into a film of the same name, Le Ravissement de Lol V. Stein[?] and her film India Song[?].
Duras's early novels were fairly conventional in form (their 'romanticism' was criticised by fellow writer Raymond Queneau); however, with Moderato Cantabile she became more experimental, paring down her texts to give ever-increasing importance to what was not said. Her films are also experimental in form, most eschewing synch sound, using voice over to allude to, rather than tell, a story over images whose relation to what is said may be more-or-less tangential.
- Les Impudents[?], Plon, 1943
- La Vie tranquille[?], Gallimard, 1944.
- Un barrage contre le Pacifique[?], Gallimard, 1950.
- Le Marin de Gilbaltar[?], Galimard, 1950.
- Des petits chevaux de Tarquinia[?], Gallimard, 1953.
- Des journées entières dans les arbres[?], "Le Boa", "Madame Dodin", "Les Chantiers", Gallimard, 1954.
- Le Square[?], Gallimard, 1955.
- Moderato Cantabile[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1958.
- Les Viaducs de la Seine et Oise[?], Gallimard, 1959.
- Hiroshima mon amour[?], Gallimard, 1960.
- L'après-midi de M. Andesmas[?], Gallimard, 1960.
- Le Ravissement de Lol V. Stein[?], Gallimard, 1964.
- Théâtre I : les Eaux et Forêts-le Square-La Musica, Gallimard, 1965.
- Le Vice-Consul[?], Gallimard, 1965.
- L'Amante Anglaise[?], Gallimard, 1967.
- Théâtre II : Suzanna Andler-Des journées entières dans les arbres-Yes, peut-être-Le Shaga-Un homme est venu me voir, Gallimard, 1968.
- Détruire, dit-elle[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1969.
- Abahn Sabana David[?], Gallimard, 1970.
- L'Amour[?], Gallimard, 1971.
- Ah! Ernesto[?], Hatlin Quist, 1971.
- India Song[?], Gallimard, 1973.
- Nathalie Granger[?], suivi de "La Femme du Gange", Gallimard, 1973.
- Le Camion[?], suivi de "Entretien avec Michelle Porte", Les Editions de Minuit, 1977.
- L'Eden Cinéma[?], Mercure de France, 1977.
- Le Navire Night[?], suivi de Cesarée, les Mains négatives, Aurélia Steiner, Mercure de France, 1979.
- Vera Baxter ou les Plages de l'Atlantique[?], Albatros, 1980.
- L'Homme assis dans le couloir[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1980.
- L'Eté 80[?], Les Editions de Minuits, 1980.
- Les Yeux verts[?], Cahiers du cinéma, n°312-313, juin 1980 et nouvelle édition, 1987.
- Agatha[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1981.
- Outside[?], Albin Michel, 1981.
- L'Homme atlantique[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1982.
- Savannah Bay[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1982, 2ème edition augmentée 1983.
- La Maladie de la mort[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1982.
- Théâtre III : -La Bête dans la jungle, d'après H. James, adaptation de J. Lord et M. Duras,-Les Papiers d'Aspern, d'après H. James, adaptation deM. Duras et R. Antelme,-La Danse de mort, d'après A. Strinberg, adaptation de M. Duras, Gallimard, 1984.
- L'Amant, Les Editions de Minuit, 1984.
- La Douleur[?], POL, 1985.
- La Musica deuxième[?], Gallimard, 1985.
- Les Yeux bleus Cheveux noirs[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1986.
- La Pute de la côte normande[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1986.
- La Vie matérielle[?], POL, 1987.
- Emily L.[?], Les Editions de Minuit, 1987.
- La Pluie d'été[?], POL, 1990.
- L'Amant de la Chine du Nord[?], Gallimard, 1991.