Customer Reviews (1)

She was an Original!
Natalie Clifford Barney a la the Amazon was born in 1876 and died in 1972 in Paris, France. She was by all accounts, a modern day Sappho. It was never known if she had a physical relationship with a male in her life. All of her sexual relationships were with women like artist, Romaine Brooks, writer Rene Vivian, Eva Palmer, and others.

She was a striking woman with blonde hair and blue eyes born of privilege and social standing in the United States. Her father had wished that she would be married to a man but that never happened and it was never going too.

Natalie lived in Paris, France where she held literary salons like the more famous, Gertrude Stein, and her partner, Alice B. Toklas. Unlike Stein, Natalie enjoyed a series of multiple lovers. This book is a nice collection of interviews with her married housekeeper of 45 years, Berthe, Janet Flanner "Genet", Truman Capote, and others who recall her personality and memory. She was quite a character as a person but a complex personality. If she had lived today, we can only wonder what her opinions and actions would be about in today's culture. There are so many amazons like Natalie Clifford Barney out there but she was an original and one of God's own creation.

Surprise, she was not a very good writer herself. She could write poetry, speak and write in fluent French but her life was complicated by her series of relationships and her literary salons. No, she wasn't the best writer but she certainly was one of the most engaging personalities of the last century especially in Paris where she had lived most of her life.

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Product Description

"Lesbianism, its flories and sorows, is the subject and quest of this marvelously erverse sentimental journey by Nightwood's author... A striking lesbian mainfesto and a deft parody."
—Library Journal

Blending fiction, myth, and revisionary parody and accompanied by the author's delightful illustrations, Ladies Almanac is also a brilliant modernist composition and arguably the most audacious lesbian text of its time. While the book pokes fun at the wealthy expatriates who were Barnes' literary contemporaries and remains controversial today, it seems to have delighted its cast of characters, which was also the first audience. Barney herself subsidized its private publication in 1928. Fifty of the 1050 copies of the first edition were hand colored by the author, who was identified only asa lady of Fashion: on the title page.

Customer Reviews (2)

Fine storytelling
Djuna Barnes (June 12, 1892 - June 18, 1982) played an important part in the development of 20th century English language modernist writing by women and was one of the key figures in 1920s and 30s bohemian Paris.

Her novel Nightwood became a cult work of modern fiction, helped by an introduction written by T.S. Eliot, and stands out for for its portrayal of lesbian themes and distinctive style.

Barnes spent the last 40 years of her life as a recluse in New York city. Since her death, interest in her work has grown and many of her books, like this one, are now back in print.

Her books are lively, irreverent, and just plain fun to read in modern times.I highly recommend that you introduce yourself to this original author!

An extraordinary book. Great fun reading and rereading it.
This is a funny book written in a poetry like style.The amusing illustrations are inspired on old wood engravings.But it's not only the story an the illustrations that are interesting. The book itself, the way it was published and distributed is also verry interesting and even romantic.In 1928 'spicy' books weren't allowed, not even in Paris France. So it was privately published in a small edition of which about 50 copies were hand coloured by the author. All books were sold by Djuna Barnes and some frends in secret along the Seine.With the help of Natalie Barneys copie the 1972 edition contains an explanation of the names used in the story and who they were in real life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

moth to a flame, if you've lived it ; you can relate!
Once in a while you come across a work that takes you aback, slams you into your sordid past (you only thought you were over it!), and makes you grateful for having lived through it.Renee's book is a lyrical tale of first love, obsession, morbidity, remorse, and ultimate triumph.If you've ever been in love so much it hurts, then this book will hit you like a ton of bricks.

Not an easy read, as it's wording is so poetic and some may think overly so.For anyone who's ever struggled to find a way to articulate the pain their lover inflicted, you'll find your words on these pages.Hauntingly brutal, decadently witty and cruel.Among my favorites now.Words can not do it justice!A hidden gem that is a joy to discover; I'm a Vivien fan for sure.Check out her poetry, it can make you weep!

The Best Poet the world has forgotten.
WHat can be said about this magnificant piece of work, except it should be a crime the way people have forgotten it. Words combined like lyrics that grasp not just your mind but your body and life as well. Wheither it be her metaphors or her simple sentances it makes for an image and a life that will stay with the reader. I would definately recommend this book to the world, I hope someday, someone notices her again and puts beautiful Vivien back into print where she should always be. ... Read more