Judith Gautier

Born in Paris on August 25, 1845, Judith Gautier grew up in an artistic family as the daughter of writer Théophile Gautier. She became known as a poet, novelist, playwright, and translator, and from an early stage of her career she stood out for her interest in Chinese and Japanese literature.

One of her best-known achievements was Le Livre de jade, a collection that helped bring Chinese poetry into the French literary imagination. She also wrote historical and exotic fiction, and her work reflected a wide curiosity about languages, music, and cultures beyond France.

Gautier's reputation in her own time was considerable. She became the first woman admitted to the Académie Goncourt, a milestone that reflected both her literary success and the respect she earned in French letters. She died on December 26, 1917.