The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas

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Back of the Book

Gertrude Stein's book, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, was written in Alice B. Toklas' voice, who had been her lifelong friend. The work, which was published in 1933, purports to be Toklas's first-person account of Stein's life, written from Toklas's point of view and complete with Toklas's sensitivities, observations, and mannerisms. The work was first released in The Atlantic Monthly magazine in a condensed form. The lives of Toklas and Stein in Paris are described in the book, including their interactions with intellectuals, literary giants, and painters including Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque at their homes. Toklas sits with the men's wives while Stein converses with brilliant men. Besides depicting their lifestyles, the book's humorous idea, expert execution and Stein's ability to write for a mass audience is demonstrated by his amusing observations of the writers and artists who were then residing in France.

Why You Should Read It

A moment preserved in time, Stein’s genius representation of her life with her lover in the midst of a blossoming Parisian art scene is part gorgeously written memoir and part precious archive of literary and artistic history. One comes to find the book a bit of a reckoning for the artists they admire as Stein allows us to look at the people behind revered art, including herself, purposefully and quite playfully shedding the veil of mystique around artists and creation.

Memorable Passage

One of the things that I have liked all these years is to be surrounded by people who know no english. It has left me more intensely alone with my eyes and my english. I do not know if it would have been possible to have english be so all in all to me otherwise. And they none of them could read a word I wrote, most of them did not even know that I did write. No, I like living with so very many people and being all alone with english and myself.

About the Author

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) was an avant-garde American writer, art collector, and literary salon hostess whose contributions to modernist literature and art have left an indelible mark on cultural history. Born in Pennsylvania, Stein moved to Paris in the early 20th century and became a central figure in the thriving expatriate community, engaging with and influencing artists like Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Her writing, notably the experimental Three Lives and the groundbreaking Tender Buttons, challenged conventional narrative structures and language, laying the groundwork for future literary movements. Stein's famous salon at 27 Rue de Fleurus was a hub of intellectual exchange and creativity. She is worth knowing for her avant-garde literary innovations, her impact on the modernist movement, and her role as a cultural catalyst during a transformative era in literature and the arts.

 
 
 
 
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