Henry Gauthier-Villars

By Giovanni Boldini

Henry Gauthier-Villars (woodcut byFélix Vallotton)

Henry Gauthier-Villars(8 August 1859 – 12 January 1931), known by thepen nameWilly[vili],was a Frenchfin de sièclewriterandmusic criticwho is today mostly known as the first husband ofColette.Other pseudonyms used by Gauthiers-Villars are:Henry Maugis,Robert Parville,l’Ex-ouvreuse du Cirque d’été,L’Ouvreuse,L’Ouvreuse du Cirque d’été,Jim Smiley,Henry WillyandBoris Zichine.

Biography

Born on 8 August 1859 inVilliers-sur-Orge,Essonneinto a bourgeois Catholic family, he attended the Lycée Fontanes and later the JesuitCollège StanislasinParis.He became fluent in Latin and German. In 1885, he obtained a law degree and subsequently started with a job in the family's publishing firm of Gauthier-Villars.

Willy was a ladies’ man;Rachildedescribed him "as a man of the world, a brilliant Parisianrake".In 1889, he metColette,14 years younger than he was; they married on 15 May 1893. As a writer and music critic he was an incessant and effective self-promoter, under whose directions his "slaves" wrote articles and novels. Hisghostwritersmay or may not have received recognition but participated because publication under the Willy name secured a high publication rate and good income. With his literary workshops, Willy published more than 50 novels.Curnonskywas one of hisghostwriters,as was his fellow gastronomistMarcel Boulestin. His participation varied and included conceptualizing, editing, and adding sections, plots, and puns. Henry's favourite song, which he could often be heard singing on his way to dinner, was "I'm Henery the Eighth".

Colette was initially handling his correspondence, but soon became involved in writing on her own starting withClaudine,her first work under the Willy label. The success led to more novels in the Claudine series. It is generally acknowledged that these books were written by Colette, but he had his hand in editing and honing the manuscripts.Willy also went into merchandizing dolls and other items based on the Claudine novels.

Colette soon learned that Willy had other affairs, and she met his mistress Charlotte Kinceler, who later became her friend. Later, Willy and Colette had an affair unbeknownst to each other with the same woman, the American socialiteGeorgie Raoul-Duval,née Urquhart. Upon discovery, they made it a threesome and attended theBayreuth festivaltogether.

The marriage to Colette lasted until 1910, although they separated in 1906. While Willy made a lot of money, he squandered it with ease on women and gambling and was facing bankruptcy. Willy went on to marry Marguerite Maniez, also known as Meg Villars after her marriage. He had no children from his two marriages; his son, Jacques, was the offspring from a prior affair. Willy died on 12 January 1931 in Paris. Three thousand mourners followed his casket to theMontparnasse cemetery.

In 1905, Willy was painted byGiovanni Boldini.

In popular culture

Willy is played byDominic Westin the 2018 filmColettewhich starsKeira Knightleyin the eponymous role of his first wife.

Bibliography

• Willy, Colette et moi,Sylvain Bonmariage,introduction byJean-Pierre Thiollet,Anagramme, Paris, 2004 (reprint)

External links

• "Willy".Encyclopædia Britannica(12th ed.). 1922.
• Henry Gauthier-VillarsatIMDb