Jacques Laurent or Jacques Laurent-Cély (6 January 1919, Paris – 28 December 2000) was a French writer and journalist. He was born in Paris, the son of a barrister. During World War II he fought with the Algerian Tirrailleurs.Laurent was elected to the Académie française in 1986.Laurent belonged to the literary group of the Hussards, and is known as a prolific historical novelist, essay writer, and screenwriter under the nom de plume of Cecil Saint-Laurent. The 1955 film Lola Montès, directed by Max Ophüls, was based on his historic novel based on the life of Lola Montez. He also directed the film Quarante-huit heures d'amour/48 Hours of Love (1969).Another noteworthy novel by Saint-Laurent was Caroline Cherie (written in 1947), a powerful book set in the early days of the French Revolution. This also became a film. This was released in France in 1953, directed by Jean-Devaivre and starring Martine Carol in the title role. Saint-Laurent was one of the scriptwriters of the film.