French writer Julien Gracq dies at 97

December 23, 2007

French writer Julien Gracq, the pen Name of Louis Poirier, died Saturday at the age of 97.

Born on July 27, 1910 in Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, France, his body of work would include poetry, novels and one theatrical work.

Tributes included French President Nicolas Sarkozy's declaration that Gracq was "one of the greatest French writers of the 20th century."

In 1989, Gracq's work was published by the Bibliothèque de la Pléiade. He remained distant from major literary events and faithful to his first editor José Corti. He taught history and geography in highschool until he retired in 1970.