The French writer Colette (Sidonie Gabrielle Colette) was born on this day in 1873. After she left her controlling husband in 1906, Colette became a Parisian music hall performer who was famous for baring one breast while dancing. At the Moulin Rouge, she caused even more controversy when she took a woman into a passionate embrace. The show caused a riot. (And Madonna thought she was "cutting edge" with her pointy bra several years ago and--more recently--by locking lips with Britney Spears on TV!) Colette's most famous book is "Gigi", which was later adapted as a play and a movie.

"Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it." - Colette

"What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner." - Colette