Régine Deforges

Régine Deforges (born 15 August 1935) is a French author, editor, director, and playwright. Born in Montmorillon, Vienne, she is sometimes called the "High Priestess of French erotic literature." Deforges was the first woman to own and operate a publishing house in France. Over the years, she has been censored, prosecuted, and heavily fined for publishing "offensive" literature (Louis Aragon: Irene's Cunt). One of her novels, La Bicyclette bleue ("The Blue Bicycle"), published in 1981, was France's biggest bestseller. In 2000, it was made into a television series. A story of love, obsession, and survival set during the turmoil of World War II, it developed into a successful series of seven books. She was formerly president of the Société des Gens de Lettres de France and a member of the Prix Femina jury. Deforges lives in Paris.