Thirty-five photos by Jean Mascolo, Marguerite’s son, depict her life from the time she was a student to an adult author of “L’amant” (The Lover) and film director.

Duras was born in Vietnam in 1914. After finishing secondary school, she went to France, and studied for degrees in political sciences and law.

Her novel “L’amant,” that was staged in Saigon in the 19th century moved millions of readers. It was translated into 43 foreign languages and won the Goncourt award in 1984.

Marguerite died in 1996 in Paris, leaving more than 60 works, including novels, film scripts and poems.