Maria van Rysselberghe
- Born:
- January 21, 1866, Ghent, Belgium
- Died:
- February 12, 1957, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
- Nationality:
- Belgian
- Profession(s):
- Translator, Diarist
Early Life and Education
- Little is definitively known about Maria van Rysselberghe's formal education.
- She came from a well-to-do family.
Career and Major Achievements
- Known primarily for her long-term relationship with the writer André Gide.
- Served as Gide's confidante, muse, and later, the mother of his illegitimate daughter, Catherine.
- Her diaries, particularly those covering her life with Gide, are a significant historical and literary resource.
- She dedicated much of her life to supporting and assisting Gide in his literary pursuits.
- Responsible for transcribing and organizing many of Gide's manuscripts and correspondence.
Notable Works
- Les Cahiers de la Petite Dame: Notes sur André Gide (1918-1951): Published posthumously, these diaries offer a detailed and intimate portrait of André Gide.
Legacy and Impact
The diaries of Maria van Rysselberghe offer a crucial, often unseen, perspective on the life and work of André Gide. They provide invaluable insights into the literary and intellectual circles of early 20th-century France. Considering the complexities of her life and role, the maria van rysselberghe biography often focuses on her relationship with Gide, which she helped to meticulously document, thereby shaping our understanding of a significant literary figure.