May 1, 2020 The Heroic Feminine and other characters from “A Night at the Amazon’s” Romaine Brooks Turns 146 Romaine Brooks was a voracious reader. One hundred years ago today in 1920, when she would have been waiting impatiently for Natalie Barney to turn up with birthday cake so they could celibrate, I
April 23, 2020 Her Second Pandemic The Red DUchess COMES OUT AGAIN at 145 Elizabeth de Gramont turns 145 today, a bit late for her second pandemic but just in time for the e-launch of No Modernism Without Lesbians by Diana Souhami. This book brings us closer to a few women we almost
“what a dump” More conversation with Cassandra Langer Born today in 1874, painter Romaine Brooks celebrated her birthday every year with writer Natalie Barney, her partner for life after they met in 1916. In search of evidence of their secret adventures, my traveling companion is Brooks biographer, Dr. Cassandra Langer. Cassandra Langer: In 1929, Natalie
(c) Eliza Jackson
If you find yourself stuck on an SNCF railway platform, a new book about Natalie Barney and her circle will take you back to a more civilized era when appointments could actually be kept: We Met in Paris: Grace Frick and her Life with Marguerite Yourcenar
The Red Duchess Turns 140 It’s always refreshing to meet a lesbian without complexes. April 23 is the birthday of the pleasure-loving French memoirist and music patron Elisabeth de Gramont, born in 1875. Today she turns 140. I was in Paris last week gallivanting around with her biographer, Francesco Rapazzini. We did what Elisabeth would have
Mother of Presidents Marries Lesbians! Approaching the winter solstice this month, pagan rites and marriage rites are both on my mind, heeding Scott Fitzgerald who advised creative people to be passionate about reconciling opposites. Cosmology has bled cinematically into these musings, in the form of INTERSTELLAR by Christopher Nolan (the love child of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
SCREENWRITER’S NOTEBOOK COALS TO NEWCASTLE DEPARTMENT Send Coffee From one coffee loving writer to another, by way of Honoré de Balzac, we have today’s post in Biographile by Joe Muscolino. Plus “eight Honor é de Balzac quotes for writers who work hard and play harder.” It’s wonderful. Stir, read and enjoy. I’ll try to hunt down
Translator’s notebook Write with your spade and garden with your pen –Vita Sackville-West Monday morning. Back at my desk. One hundred and five years ago today in 1909, here on page 198, Lily and Natalie are frolicking in the garden of their first June together. I can only join them in translation. Leaving your
As Elusive as Ever Update on the lost film footage Last month you saw the first and only known film clip of Natalie Barney, speaking at home about Mata Hari, the subject of a 1996 British documentary. Since then, my tireless assistant Nikki Grigsby has been on the case to hunt down the source footage. Results: nil.
Natalie Speaks Lost Film Footage Found by Italian researcher I had heard rumors that an audio recording existed of Natalie Barney. Like everyone else, I longed to hear her voice and listen to her speaking. Last week, Natalie’s friend and biographer Jean Chalon very kindly forwarded this link sent to him by Italian researcher Giulia
