Deborah Levy's 'A Year in Paris' Traces Gertrude Stein's Legacy
British author Deborah Levy releases her latest work, 'A Year in Paris,' a biographical exploration of the influential American writer and art collector Gertrude Stein. Published by Le Figaro Littéraire, this critical review highlights Levy's attempt to resurrect the spirit of Stein, a central figure in early 20th-century Parisian avant-garde circles. Known for her autobiographical trilogy which won the Femina Foreign Prize in 2020, Levy shifts focus to craft an 'exploded portrait' of Stein, who was a mentor to Ernest Hemingway and friend to Pablo Picasso. The book examines Stein's unique literary style, characterized by repetition and a lack of punctuation, as well as her role as a patron of Cubist artists. Levy navigates the complexities of Stein's life, from her medical studies to her settlement in Paris with her brother Leo. This new publication adds to Levy's growing reputation as a versatile playwright and novelist, following recent works like 'Hot Milk' and 'Bleu d'August.' The article positions the book as a brilliant, albeit challenging, puzzle that seeks to understand the woman Ezra Pound famously nicknamed the 'barrel on legs,' offering readers a deep dive into modernist literary history.
Wire timeline
Deborah Levy's 'A Year in Paris' Traces Gertrude Stein's Legacy
British author Deborah Levy releases her latest work, 'A Year in Paris,' a biographical exploration of the influential American writer and art collector Gertrude Stein. Published by Le Figaro Littéraire, this critical review highlights Levy's attempt to resurrect the spirit of Stein, a central figure in early 20th-century Parisian avant-garde circles. Known for her autobiographical trilogy which won the Femina Foreign Prize in 2020, Levy shifts focus to craft an 'exploded portrait' of Stein, who was a mentor to Ernest Hemingway and friend to Pablo Picasso. The book examines Stein's unique literary style, characterized by repetition and a lack of punctuation, as well as her role as a patron of Cubist artists. Levy navigates the complexities of Stein's life, from her medical studies to her settlement in Paris with her brother Leo. This new publication adds to Levy's growing reputation as a versatile playwright and novelist, following recent works like 'Hot Milk' and 'Bleu d'August.' The article positions the book as a brilliant, albeit challenging, puzzle that seeks to understand the woman Ezra Pound famously nicknamed the 'barrel on legs,' offering readers a deep dive into modernist literary history.
lefigaro