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Anna de Noailles
Anna, Comtesse de Noailles, 1922
Anna, Comtesse de Noailles, 1922
Born Anna Elisabeth Bibesco-Bassaraba de Brancovan
(1876-11-15)15 November 1876
Paris, France
Died 30 April 1933(1933-04-30) (aged 56)
Paris, France
Resting place Père Lachaise Cemetery
Occupation Novelist, poet
Language French
Notable awards Commander of the Legion of Honor
Spouse Mathieu Fernand Frédéric Pascal de Noailles
Children 1

Anna, Comtesse Mathieu de Noailles (born Anna Elisabeth Bibesco-Bassaraba de Brancovan; November 15, 1876 – April 30, 1933) was a famous French writer and poet. She also supported the idea of socialist feminism, which means she believed in equal rights for women and a fairer society. Anna came from both Romanian and Greek families.

About Anna de Noailles

Her Early Life

Anna Elisabeth Bibesco-Bassaraba de Brancovan was born in Paris, France. Her family had a long history, tracing back to important Romanian noble families called Bibescu and Craioveşti. Her father was Prince Grégoire Bibesco-Bassaraba. Her mother, Ralouka (Rachel) Mussurus, was a talented musician. The famous Polish composer Ignacy Paderewski even dedicated some of his music to Anna's mother.

Through her mother, Anna was also connected to a significant figure in Bulgarian history, Sophronius of Vratsa.

Marriage and Family

In 1897, Anna married Mathieu Fernand Frédéric Pascal de Noailles. He was the fourth son of the 7th Duke de Noailles. Anna and Mathieu quickly became very popular in the high society of Paris. They had one son together, named Count Anne-Jules de Noailles, who was born in 1900.

Her Writing Career

Countess Mathieu de Noailles, by Ignacio Zuloaga
Anna de Noailles, painted by Ignacio Zuloaga in 1913.

Anna de Noailles was a very busy writer. She wrote three novels, a book about her own life (an autobiography), and many collections of poetry. She was friends with many well-known writers, artists, and thinkers of her time. These included famous names like Marcel Proust, Colette, André Gide, and Jean Cocteau.

In 1929, a writer for The New York Times newspaper called her "one of the finest poets of present-day France." This shows how highly people thought of her work.

Anna de Noailles passed away in Paris in 1933 when she was 56 years old. She was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, a famous cemetery in Paris. She was also a cousin to Prince Antoine Bibesco and Princess Marthe Bibesco, who were also well-known figures.

Anna in Art

Laszlo - Anna de Noailles
Portrait of Anna de Noailles by Philip de László, 1913.

Anna de Noailles was so admired that many famous artists painted her portrait. Some of these artists were Antonio de la Gandara, Ignacio Zuloaga, Kees van Dongen, Jacques Émile Blanche, and the British painter Philip de László.

In 1906, the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin created a sculpture of her. You can see the clay model of this sculpture at the Musée Rodin in Paris. The finished marble sculpture is displayed in the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.

Awards and Honors

Anna de Noailles achieved many important firsts for women. She was the first woman to become a Commander of the Legion of Honor. This is a very high award in France. She was also the first woman to be welcomed into the Royal Belgian Academy of French Language and Literature.

In 1921, she received the "Grand Prix" from the Académie Française, which is a major honor for French writers.

Countess de Noailles also helped choose winners for the Prix Blumenthal. This was an award given to talented painters, sculptors, writers, and musicians between 1919 and 1954.

Her Published Works

Here are some of the books and poetry collections Anna de Noailles wrote:

  • Le Cœur innombrable (1901)
  • L'Ombre des jours (1902)
  • La Nouvelle Espérance (1903)
  • Le Visage émerveillé (1904)
  • La Domination (1905)
  • Les Éblouissements (1907)
  • Les Vivants et les Morts (1913)
  • Les Forces éternelles (1920)
  • Les Innocentes, ou La Sagesse des femmes (1923)
  • Poème de l'amour (1924)
  • L'Honneur de souffrir (1927)
  • Exactitudes, Paris (1930)
  • Le Livre de ma vie (1932)
  • Derniers Vers et Poèmes d'enfance (1934)

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anna de Noailles para niños

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