Marie Claire

1911. With an Introduction by Arnold Bennett. Marie Claire, a little jewel of Primitive art, is all but unknown. It was written by Marguerite Audoux, a seamstress, who spent her childhood in an orphanage until the age of 14. She was then taken to a farm near Sainte-Montaine. During this time she learned not only about life but also about literature. At the end of the 19th century Audoux left for Paris where she met Michel Yell, a writer and friend of Gide. She also made the acquaintance of Leon-Paul Fargue and Valery Larbaud who, in 1908, copied out the manuscript for Marie-Claire, anticipating the huge success it would bring her. Marie-Claire won the prix Femina in 1910. The story begins: One day a number of people came to the house. The men came in as though they were going into church, and the women made the sign of the cross as they went out.