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Villa America
A dazzling novel set in the Cap D'Antibes based on the real-life inspirations for Fitzgerald's Tender is The Night.
In this gorgeous, glamorous, and affecting novel, Liza Klaussmann does for Sara and Gerald Murphy what Paula McLain and Michael Cunningham did for Ernest Hemingway and Virginia Woolf in The Paris Wife and The Hours. Villa America was in fact a real house on the French Riviera that Sara and Gerald Murphy built to escape to in the 1920's. Members of a group of expat Americans, they were known for their fabulous parties and for making the Riviera into the glamorous place it is today. Their freewheeling days were filled with champagne and caviar, but these were people who kept secrets and who were, of course, heartbreakingly human.
This is a stunning story about the Lost Generation, about a marriage, about a golden age which could not last.
In this gorgeous, glamorous, and affecting novel, Liza Klaussmann does for Sara and Gerald Murphy what Paula McLain and Michael Cunningham did for Ernest Hemingway and Virginia Woolf in The Paris Wife and The Hours. Villa America was in fact a real house on the French Riviera that Sara and Gerald Murphy built to escape to in the 1920's. Members of a group of expat Americans, they were known for their fabulous parties and for making the Riviera into the glamorous place it is today. Their freewheeling days were filled with champagne and caviar, but these were people who kept secrets and who were, of course, heartbreakingly human.
This is a stunning story about the Lost Generation, about a marriage, about a golden age which could not last.
426 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2015
210 people are currently reading
7312 people want to read
About the author
Liza Klaussmann
5 books296 followersLiza Klaussmann worked as a journalist for the New York Times for over a decade. She received a BA in Creative Writing from Barnard College, where she was awarded the Howard M. Teichman Prize for Prose. She lived in Paris for ten years and she recently completed with distinction an MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, in London, where she lives. She is the great-great-great granddaughter of Herman Melville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 566 reviews
October 6, 2017
This book, a fictionalized biography of Gerald and Sara Murphy, began with a great deal of promise. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and the writing was thoughtful, tasteful, and sensitive toward the characters in the book. The book rotates between what Gerald is experiencing, what Sara is experiencing, and the experiences of a completely fictional person named Owen Chambers. I grew quite fond of all of them and could empathize with all of them.
However, just over the half-way mark there was a sudden change, and it was not subtle. For me, it was a jolt. I literally felt like I was tossed out of the book and struggling to find my way back in. Rather than the sensitive and compassionate touch in the first part of the book, I felt I was reading a tabloid – one where every bit of grit and grime and dirt and secrets were blown hither and yon; mostly into my eyes.
I want to emphasize that it wasn’t the subject matter that was so disturbing and distasteful - i.e., the infidelities, drunken brawls, and scatter-brained behavior of the “in-crowd” who used to hang out at the Murphy’s Villa America on the French Riviera. Nor was the subject matter dealing with Gerald Murphy’s alleged ambiguity about his sexuality in itself offensive. What was disturbing was how it was presented.
We are told that he or she feels this way; we are told that this incident happened because that other occurred; we are told that so and so thought such and such about this or that person. This was nothing like the first half of the book where we could make up our own minds about people’s thoughts and feelings by their actions. Instead, it was force-fed and fully digested.
I could go on with many other examples of “telling” such as the letters that were made up by the author – based on sometimes only one sentence isolated out of a real-life letter. Context is everything, friends.
I just deleted a whole other paragraph because really, when all is said and done, books are always going to be subjective. However, for me this one did not come up to par because it felt like it was written by two different people and the second person seemed to do everything possible to alienate me, the reader. It wasn’t a great feeling.
Personally, I can’t whole-heartedly endorse this book or recommend it to my friends. It started at a solid 4 Stars and gradually trailed down to 2.5. Where I come from, we round up so it’s 3 Stars even though I am tempted to go with 2.
However, just over the half-way mark there was a sudden change, and it was not subtle. For me, it was a jolt. I literally felt like I was tossed out of the book and struggling to find my way back in. Rather than the sensitive and compassionate touch in the first part of the book, I felt I was reading a tabloid – one where every bit of grit and grime and dirt and secrets were blown hither and yon; mostly into my eyes.
I want to emphasize that it wasn’t the subject matter that was so disturbing and distasteful - i.e., the infidelities, drunken brawls, and scatter-brained behavior of the “in-crowd” who used to hang out at the Murphy’s Villa America on the French Riviera. Nor was the subject matter dealing with Gerald Murphy’s alleged ambiguity about his sexuality in itself offensive. What was disturbing was how it was presented.
We are told that he or she feels this way; we are told that this incident happened because that other occurred; we are told that so and so thought such and such about this or that person. This was nothing like the first half of the book where we could make up our own minds about people’s thoughts and feelings by their actions. Instead, it was force-fed and fully digested.
I could go on with many other examples of “telling” such as the letters that were made up by the author – based on sometimes only one sentence isolated out of a real-life letter. Context is everything, friends.
I just deleted a whole other paragraph because really, when all is said and done, books are always going to be subjective. However, for me this one did not come up to par because it felt like it was written by two different people and the second person seemed to do everything possible to alienate me, the reader. It wasn’t a great feeling.
Personally, I can’t whole-heartedly endorse this book or recommend it to my friends. It started at a solid 4 Stars and gradually trailed down to 2.5. Where I come from, we round up so it’s 3 Stars even though I am tempted to go with 2.
August 12, 2015
The novels of the Jazz Age have such a special atmosphere if done well. This age produced so many fine writers and artists whose works endure even now. Gerald and Sara Murphy are a couple I had read about in other novels but really didn't know very much about. In this novel, Klaussmann centers on this time period by focusing on their relationship, their friends, their struggles and the wonderful time they had at Villa America in the French Rivera.
The Murphy's were friends, were well liked by Dom Passos, Hemingway, Pauline and Hadley, the Fitzgeralds, Cole Porter Picasso and many others. All are included in this book. The book starts with Gerald's and Sara's childhood, and moves on to their marriage, their family and why they built Villa America. There they were golden, happy, loved, threw parties, made trips, attended the bull fight and running of the bulls with the Hemingways and tried to be the best they could be. I am always amazed at the prodigious amount of alcohol they all drank.
This book is well and atmospherically written. A time of excess, of divorces and changing relationships, yet the Murphy's stayed together and raised their family. So much of it is based on real people and things that happened to them and with them. The Gerald's time in the sun would come to an end, domestic heartbreaks would send them away from Villa America, never to return. The ending of the book is one I loved, though some may not, I thought it was brilliant. An authors note, detailing where facts were sourced and what was real and what was fiction is included. Like all good books this book will lead me to three others, one Tender is the Night, is apparently modeled after and dedicated to the Murphys. Also a few nonfiction books mentioned by the author in the afterword. Recommend for all fans of this time period, the Great Gatsby and any of the others mentioned in my review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am sorry it ended.
ARC from publisher.
The Murphy's were friends, were well liked by Dom Passos, Hemingway, Pauline and Hadley, the Fitzgeralds, Cole Porter Picasso and many others. All are included in this book. The book starts with Gerald's and Sara's childhood, and moves on to their marriage, their family and why they built Villa America. There they were golden, happy, loved, threw parties, made trips, attended the bull fight and running of the bulls with the Hemingways and tried to be the best they could be. I am always amazed at the prodigious amount of alcohol they all drank.
This book is well and atmospherically written. A time of excess, of divorces and changing relationships, yet the Murphy's stayed together and raised their family. So much of it is based on real people and things that happened to them and with them. The Gerald's time in the sun would come to an end, domestic heartbreaks would send them away from Villa America, never to return. The ending of the book is one I loved, though some may not, I thought it was brilliant. An authors note, detailing where facts were sourced and what was real and what was fiction is included. Like all good books this book will lead me to three others, one Tender is the Night, is apparently modeled after and dedicated to the Murphys. Also a few nonfiction books mentioned by the author in the afterword. Recommend for all fans of this time period, the Great Gatsby and any of the others mentioned in my review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am sorry it ended.
ARC from publisher.
September 16, 2015
In her second novel, Klaussmann explores the glittering, tragic lives of Gerald and Sara Murphy, real-life models for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night. The book is slow to start with, with the first third unnecessarily devoted to Gerald’s and Sara’s childhoods and courtship. It is not until the Murphys are established in France and receive visits from fellow artists that the book really comes to life. It is easy to see why the Murphys attracted hangers-on. Yet beneath the façade of glamour, there is real sadness and struggle. Gerald’s uncertain sexuality is a tacit issue between him and Sara, and sickness strikes the family with cruel precision. The novel set up a beautiful contrast between happiness and tragedy.
(Non-subscribers can read an excerpt of my full review at BookBrowse.)
Readalikes:
• Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
• Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood
• Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
(Non-subscribers can read an excerpt of my full review at BookBrowse.)
Readalikes:
• Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
• Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood
• Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
August 29, 2015
Fantastic rendering of the life and times of The Murphys - glamorous expats who entertained the likes of the Fitzgeralds, the Picassos, the Hemingways and the Porters. I enjoyed the insights into the lives of these artists while they were on the brink of creating some pretty brilliant masterpieces. Oh and the delicious life that the rich have lived in the roaring twenties!
I’ve always been a fan of books that force me to do a bit more than just to read what was written on its pages. I like it when I have to seek out meaning of unfamiliar words or research the locations and the historical figures that were mentioned. Villa America is just that type of novel. It is the story about the couple whose F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night was said to be loosely based on. Upon reading a bit more about the Murphys, I stumbled upon a group of literati also known as the “Lost Generation”. By definition, it is a group of artists that came of age during World War 1. The Murphys, in one way or another, had a hand in this.
Gerald and Sara Murphy were expatriates who hosted the likes of Cole Porter, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda; Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso in their French Riviera home aptly called, Villa America. This novel tells the story of the social dynamics of this group; their relationships, temperaments, and the sexual freedom inspired by the era.
Here, we find Gerald Murphy come to terms with his own, while Sara Murphy became the magnetic north of all the male compass within their circle. Set in the 20s, the world we’re introduced to was that of luxury, dinner parties, picnics, and extra marital affairs. And in Gerald Murphy’s case, an affair with a gay man. The Murphys were what you can consider as the centre of the universe for all the parties involve. They’re drawn to their wealth, their kindness, and influential clout.
For all intents and purposes, Villa America is a semi-fictional account of their lives based on a number of books written by the remaining Murphys. It is a lovely rendering of the relationship that blossomed between Gerald and Sara. We also see the heartbreaks this couple suffered. They lost children; friendships were severed, and in Gerald’s case, a broken heart through a difficult decision he had to make. We also see them lose their wealth as most of Americans did during the Depression.
Typically a fan of epistolary method of writing, but I didn’t enjoy the last bits of this book. I wanted to read more, and sadly, the letters were not sufficient enough. You’ll see some brilliant people in a different light. Zelda Fitzgerald was painted as a spoiled, needy wife, and Scott, an ugly drunk. Hemingway was as everything you’ve come to know about him. He likes women, but he doesn’t love them. Villa America is such a great read for fans of the era. It’s luxurious, lovely, and at times, heartbreaking.
I’ve always been a fan of books that force me to do a bit more than just to read what was written on its pages. I like it when I have to seek out meaning of unfamiliar words or research the locations and the historical figures that were mentioned. Villa America is just that type of novel. It is the story about the couple whose F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night was said to be loosely based on. Upon reading a bit more about the Murphys, I stumbled upon a group of literati also known as the “Lost Generation”. By definition, it is a group of artists that came of age during World War 1. The Murphys, in one way or another, had a hand in this.
Gerald and Sara Murphy were expatriates who hosted the likes of Cole Porter, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda; Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso in their French Riviera home aptly called, Villa America. This novel tells the story of the social dynamics of this group; their relationships, temperaments, and the sexual freedom inspired by the era.
Here, we find Gerald Murphy come to terms with his own, while Sara Murphy became the magnetic north of all the male compass within their circle. Set in the 20s, the world we’re introduced to was that of luxury, dinner parties, picnics, and extra marital affairs. And in Gerald Murphy’s case, an affair with a gay man. The Murphys were what you can consider as the centre of the universe for all the parties involve. They’re drawn to their wealth, their kindness, and influential clout.
For all intents and purposes, Villa America is a semi-fictional account of their lives based on a number of books written by the remaining Murphys. It is a lovely rendering of the relationship that blossomed between Gerald and Sara. We also see the heartbreaks this couple suffered. They lost children; friendships were severed, and in Gerald’s case, a broken heart through a difficult decision he had to make. We also see them lose their wealth as most of Americans did during the Depression.
Typically a fan of epistolary method of writing, but I didn’t enjoy the last bits of this book. I wanted to read more, and sadly, the letters were not sufficient enough. You’ll see some brilliant people in a different light. Zelda Fitzgerald was painted as a spoiled, needy wife, and Scott, an ugly drunk. Hemingway was as everything you’ve come to know about him. He likes women, but he doesn’t love them. Villa America is such a great read for fans of the era. It’s luxurious, lovely, and at times, heartbreaking.
September 11, 2015
*3.5 stars
I liked this for the most part. I'm a fan of the 1920's and hearing about the Lost Generation always captures my interest. They were such a fascinating group: the Fitzgeralds, Hemingways, Picasso, etc. After reading this, I now know more about another: the Murphys. Which I, honestly, didn't know too much about. They kinda had a sad life after years of being favored. The book was well written but I wish the character of Owen hadn't been in the book. Lost a little steam with him in it. Overall, I liked the story but I just didn't love it.
I liked this for the most part. I'm a fan of the 1920's and hearing about the Lost Generation always captures my interest. They were such a fascinating group: the Fitzgeralds, Hemingways, Picasso, etc. After reading this, I now know more about another: the Murphys. Which I, honestly, didn't know too much about. They kinda had a sad life after years of being favored. The book was well written but I wish the character of Owen hadn't been in the book. Lost a little steam with him in it. Overall, I liked the story but I just didn't love it.
June 25, 2016
Liza Klausmann, bestselling author of TIGERS IN RED WEATHER, transcends the historical biographical novel to present a radiant, engrossing account of Gerald and Sara Murphy, real-life inspirations for the Divers in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night", whose fabled marriage and years-long stint as premier hosts of American ex-pats and other famous figures of the Jazz Age in their Villa America on the Riviera concealed anguish, secrets, and, ultimately, devastating loss.
Framing their story through the fictional character of Owen Chambers, a pilot wounded in WWI, whose detachment toward the world hides a yearning to belong somewhere, helps the reader slip into the cocktail-drenched ambiance of this privileged couple, and their carousel friendships with unstable Scott and Zelda Fitgerald - portrayed here with sensitive pathos - virile but judgmental Hemingway and his unhappy wife, Hadley, Don dos Passos, Ellen Barry, and many luminaries of the era. While at moments the novel can feel overpopulated, Klaussman keeps her narrative grounded in Owen, his initial reluctant attraction to the Murphys' bohemian laissez-faire gradually growing into a consuming, forbidden love that threatens the couple's carefully constructed marriage. Owen feels real in a world where so much is fleeting, where the looming shadow of WWII will blow apart the jaunts to the beach and poached eggs on the terrace, heralding the end of a time that is now tinted by the rose-colored bulb of nostalgia.
That said, Klaussman's portrait of the Murphys is masterfully crafted - Gerald is an intelligent, sensitive man at odds with himself, adoring and adored by his greathearted, gregarious wife, Sara, but torn asunder by his longing for a different kind of love. Sara, too, glides across the pages as a liberated woman of the 1920s, freed from her slumbering existence as the constrained daughter of an upper-crust New York family to indulge her talent for bringing disparate people together across champagne-and-caviar-laden tables. Their marriage, the deep-rooted love between them, is something to behold; and Klaussmann wisely avoids dissecting it too much. It simply exists, like a force of nature which nothing can rupture, but it also carries its sorrows and grievances, the tiny sacrifices that accumulate over time and make something seemingly perfect less so, yet also more beautiful, much like grains of sand in an oyster can create a pearl.
The first part of the novel moves at a leisurely pace as we meet Sara, Gerald, and Owen in their youths, the threads of their differences weaving together as the frenetic middle part takes hold and we're plunged into the bonhomie of the Riviera. The scenes at their Villa America burst with chatter and depth, particularly when in the throes of visits from the Fitzgeralds. The last part can feel distant, told mainly through letters - but it's a deliberate choice, for by then, letters are all these people have, as the realities of the present erase their past, and they are faced with what was lost and what is left.
This novel lingers. I found myself thinking about it for days after I finished it. I enjoyed Miss Klaussmann's first novel but found it more remote and mannered, to a certain degree. Here, she forgets the need to write beautifully and allows her characters to take over, resulting not only in an exquisite homage to the couple whose generosity defined their era, but also a paean to a lost time, and an indictment of the suffering that men like Gerald and Owen, and thousands of others, underwent because of societal judgment. Though the Murphys have starred in other books, VILLA AMERICA captures them as others have not - and it's a testament to the author's passion for her subject.
Framing their story through the fictional character of Owen Chambers, a pilot wounded in WWI, whose detachment toward the world hides a yearning to belong somewhere, helps the reader slip into the cocktail-drenched ambiance of this privileged couple, and their carousel friendships with unstable Scott and Zelda Fitgerald - portrayed here with sensitive pathos - virile but judgmental Hemingway and his unhappy wife, Hadley, Don dos Passos, Ellen Barry, and many luminaries of the era. While at moments the novel can feel overpopulated, Klaussman keeps her narrative grounded in Owen, his initial reluctant attraction to the Murphys' bohemian laissez-faire gradually growing into a consuming, forbidden love that threatens the couple's carefully constructed marriage. Owen feels real in a world where so much is fleeting, where the looming shadow of WWII will blow apart the jaunts to the beach and poached eggs on the terrace, heralding the end of a time that is now tinted by the rose-colored bulb of nostalgia.
That said, Klaussman's portrait of the Murphys is masterfully crafted - Gerald is an intelligent, sensitive man at odds with himself, adoring and adored by his greathearted, gregarious wife, Sara, but torn asunder by his longing for a different kind of love. Sara, too, glides across the pages as a liberated woman of the 1920s, freed from her slumbering existence as the constrained daughter of an upper-crust New York family to indulge her talent for bringing disparate people together across champagne-and-caviar-laden tables. Their marriage, the deep-rooted love between them, is something to behold; and Klaussmann wisely avoids dissecting it too much. It simply exists, like a force of nature which nothing can rupture, but it also carries its sorrows and grievances, the tiny sacrifices that accumulate over time and make something seemingly perfect less so, yet also more beautiful, much like grains of sand in an oyster can create a pearl.
The first part of the novel moves at a leisurely pace as we meet Sara, Gerald, and Owen in their youths, the threads of their differences weaving together as the frenetic middle part takes hold and we're plunged into the bonhomie of the Riviera. The scenes at their Villa America burst with chatter and depth, particularly when in the throes of visits from the Fitzgeralds. The last part can feel distant, told mainly through letters - but it's a deliberate choice, for by then, letters are all these people have, as the realities of the present erase their past, and they are faced with what was lost and what is left.
This novel lingers. I found myself thinking about it for days after I finished it. I enjoyed Miss Klaussmann's first novel but found it more remote and mannered, to a certain degree. Here, she forgets the need to write beautifully and allows her characters to take over, resulting not only in an exquisite homage to the couple whose generosity defined their era, but also a paean to a lost time, and an indictment of the suffering that men like Gerald and Owen, and thousands of others, underwent because of societal judgment. Though the Murphys have starred in other books, VILLA AMERICA captures them as others have not - and it's a testament to the author's passion for her subject.
February 23, 2020
I'm glad this has been my commute audio book for the last week as I suspect if I'd read it, I'd have dnf'd. It's very uneven and unfocused: Klaussmann has done her research and boy, she wants us to know it! Everything she's read is crammed in here, relevant or not, and the result is a hotchpotch of stories and a skipping around in PoV, breathtaking in its inconsistency.
The first third or so is the rather dull childhoods and courtship of Gerald and Sarah, as well as the early life of an invented character whose function is to test Gerald's sexuality and their marriage. Only then do we arrive at the eponymous villa on the Riviera. Sadly, it's more name-dropping ('Ernest Hemingway is coming for dinner!') than anything else with rather cartoonish caricatures of Scott and Zelda, Ernest caught between Hadley and Pauline, Pablo Picasso, and Cole Porter.
It's a shame as there are moments when the writing conveys intimacy and desire, but then it retreats to panoramic gossip mag mode. There are some odd narrative decisions, too: telling us the end from the beginning, then just stopping rather than bringing the story to a close. So structurally this is baggy and shapeless, and the main content doesn't tell us anything we didn't know before. Still, it's easy listening and not a problem if you lose listening concentration, the story is simple enough and familiar enough to survive.
The first third or so is the rather dull childhoods and courtship of Gerald and Sarah, as well as the early life of an invented character whose function is to test Gerald's sexuality and their marriage. Only then do we arrive at the eponymous villa on the Riviera. Sadly, it's more name-dropping ('Ernest Hemingway is coming for dinner!') than anything else with rather cartoonish caricatures of Scott and Zelda, Ernest caught between Hadley and Pauline, Pablo Picasso, and Cole Porter.
It's a shame as there are moments when the writing conveys intimacy and desire, but then it retreats to panoramic gossip mag mode. There are some odd narrative decisions, too: telling us the end from the beginning, then just stopping rather than bringing the story to a close. So structurally this is baggy and shapeless, and the main content doesn't tell us anything we didn't know before. Still, it's easy listening and not a problem if you lose listening concentration, the story is simple enough and familiar enough to survive.
October 22, 2015
I've always been fascinated with, and have read many books about (both fiction and non-fiction) the various literary scenes. Bloomsbury, the literary scene in Paris in the 1920s and 30s, the Weimar Republic in Germany between the wars, and the Lost Generation.
This book purports to be a novel about the Lost generation so I was all excited and really looking forward to reading it and finding out more about Hemingway, Fitzgerald et al. Unfortunately, I am almost 200 pages into this book and so far it is nothing but a love story about Sara and Gerald Murphy, who, while important to the Lost Generation scene, I really am not interested in reading hundreds of pages of a love story regarding them. So, very disappointed, I'm giving up on this book. If you like romance, this book is for you. But if you're looking for new perspectives on the artists, writers etc. who rose to fame around the time of World War One, this book is not going to help you there.
This book purports to be a novel about the Lost generation so I was all excited and really looking forward to reading it and finding out more about Hemingway, Fitzgerald et al. Unfortunately, I am almost 200 pages into this book and so far it is nothing but a love story about Sara and Gerald Murphy, who, while important to the Lost Generation scene, I really am not interested in reading hundreds of pages of a love story regarding them. So, very disappointed, I'm giving up on this book. If you like romance, this book is for you. But if you're looking for new perspectives on the artists, writers etc. who rose to fame around the time of World War One, this book is not going to help you there.
July 23, 2015
Historical fiction based on Sara and Gerald Murphy who Scott Fitzgerald used as a basis for Nicole and Dick Diver in "Tender is the Night". The Murphy's built a house on the French Riviera "Villa America" where they entertained the "in crowd" of artists and writers of 1920's post war America. Sara wafts about in a haze of fashion and perfume organising the most amazing parties for these fashionista friends. The fictional character of Owen Chambers is introduced by LK to bring an added element to the story around the sexuality of Gerald whose relationships were rumoured but nothing was ever documented. No doubt well written and there is a certain sophistication to the work (makes me sound exceedingly pompous and a I don't mean to be) but what was most interesting about the Murphy's was who they knew. I decided after reading "The Paris Wife" I didn't like Hemingway much and his portrayal in this was just as obnoxious, I didn't like the Fitzgerald's much either. LK created a decent story but I think she loved these characters more than me. Parts of it dragged, especially the letters, the sadness for the Murphy's at the end endeared me a little to them but they were really quite superficial. For me not as good as "Tigers in Red Weather"which was one of my fave reads of last year so this only gets 3* from me.
January 28, 2021
They call it lost generation or Generatiob perdue, but why? So many best writers, painters and composers livex in Paris in this period and of course they spent summers in Riviera, Cote Azur.
This story is about Sara and Gerald Murthy and their life on cote d'azur. All these people that come in in and by, amazing. Scott Fitzerald, Pablo Picasso and Ernst Hemingway and more..
And you know what!? I do love books that lead you to other books, I will definitely will read Tender Is the Night , because I will see the real people in the book and judge it completly different way.
Highly recommend to everyone who likes artists and the stories about their life.
This story is about Sara and Gerald Murthy and their life on cote d'azur. All these people that come in in and by, amazing. Scott Fitzerald, Pablo Picasso and Ernst Hemingway and more..
And you know what!? I do love books that lead you to other books, I will definitely will read Tender Is the Night , because I will see the real people in the book and judge it completly different way.
Highly recommend to everyone who likes artists and the stories about their life.
June 18, 2015
Villa America, a work of historical fiction, is the story of Sara and Gerald Murphy, an expat American couple who were part of the Parisian “Jazz Age” literary coterie The Murphy’s built a house on the French Riviera, Villa America, where they entertained their friends Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemmingway, John Dos Passos, Archibald MacLeish, Dorothy Parker as well as Pablo Picasso and Cole Porter, Gerald’s Yale roommate. Fitzgerald dedicated Tender is the Night to Sara and Gerald and claimed to have based Nicole and Dick Diver on them. There is plenty of history here, some of which is recognizable from The Paris Wife and A Moveable Feast, but Klaussmann has inserted a fictional protagonist and created a story that becomes the overarching plot of the novel. It focuses on Gerald and Sara, and specifically, Gerald’s relationships about which some things are known but very little is documented. While Klaussmann is successful in creating a cohesive story, I felt that it dragged a bit and I was always more engaged when the action involved one of their illustrious friends, particularly if it was scene, such as the running of the bulls in Pamplona that was familiar to me from other pieces of literature. In the end of the day what was most interesting about Gerald and Sara is not what they were but who they knew.
May 28, 2015
Villa America by Liza Klaussmann is an absolute gem of a book, the kind of story that sweeps you away and makes you feel almost lost in it. The author has a real gift for drawing you into the story and making the characters come alive.
The protagonists of this novel were real people - Sara and Gerald Murphy, the "glue" that held together a social set which included Zelda & F Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso, Cole & Linda Porter and Ernest Hemingway. Liza Klaussmann weaves Sara and Gerald's true life story into a novel that vividly portrays these characters and the era they lived in.
Sara and Gerald set out to create a beautiful world at Villa America, their home on the French Riviera. They manage to create an oasis of artistic genius, style and wild, jazz age parties but as we watch Sara and Gerald grow and build their family we can also see the world changing round them at breakneck pace. No one will remain unscathed by these changes or by the capricious nature of fate, least of all Sara and Gerald themselves.
A real page turner, Villa America had me hooked from the start and I struggled to put it down. One of my favourite books so far this year, it is a story that will stay with me for a long, long time. Highly, highly recommended.
The protagonists of this novel were real people - Sara and Gerald Murphy, the "glue" that held together a social set which included Zelda & F Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso, Cole & Linda Porter and Ernest Hemingway. Liza Klaussmann weaves Sara and Gerald's true life story into a novel that vividly portrays these characters and the era they lived in.
Sara and Gerald set out to create a beautiful world at Villa America, their home on the French Riviera. They manage to create an oasis of artistic genius, style and wild, jazz age parties but as we watch Sara and Gerald grow and build their family we can also see the world changing round them at breakneck pace. No one will remain unscathed by these changes or by the capricious nature of fate, least of all Sara and Gerald themselves.
A real page turner, Villa America had me hooked from the start and I struggled to put it down. One of my favourite books so far this year, it is a story that will stay with me for a long, long time. Highly, highly recommended.
May 31, 2015
Set in the roaring 1920s, Villa America follows the hospitable couple Sara and Gerald Murphy, who opened up their home on the French Riviera to artists and writers. Guests returned to them year after year, some to stay, some to join in their fabulous parties. Their parties were legendary, and among their famous guests was Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
This is a beautifully written book, one that captivated until the final page. Sara and Gerald Murphy were the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic book Tender is the Night, and they were the couple that everyone wanted to know. Villa America is firmly their novel, from their secret courtship, to raising a family – and to the tragedy that nearly destroyed them. This is a riveting read that perfectly captures this period of history, along with the many unique artists and writers they met. It is billed as a story of ‘great art, great loss, and great love’ and I think the novel hits all these notes with surety. We are also introduced to another character early on in the plot, pilot Owen Chambers, who is an entirely imaginary person, but a complicated individual who adds an interesting element to this intelligent novel.
This is a beautifully written book, one that captivated until the final page. Sara and Gerald Murphy were the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic book Tender is the Night, and they were the couple that everyone wanted to know. Villa America is firmly their novel, from their secret courtship, to raising a family – and to the tragedy that nearly destroyed them. This is a riveting read that perfectly captures this period of history, along with the many unique artists and writers they met. It is billed as a story of ‘great art, great loss, and great love’ and I think the novel hits all these notes with surety. We are also introduced to another character early on in the plot, pilot Owen Chambers, who is an entirely imaginary person, but a complicated individual who adds an interesting element to this intelligent novel.
April 23, 2015
A delicious novel to dive into head first...
This is the fictionalised story of Sara and Gerald Murphy, the real life inspiration behind F.Scott Fitzgerald's 'Tender Is the Night'.
This book has the most perfect opening line which just gives you a taster of how beautiful Liza Klaussmann's writing is. So many beautiful lines stood out to me throughout this book. I loved the way she seamlessly blended together real life and fictional characters. There's love, loss, betrayal and cocktails – all perfect ingredients for a great read.
This is a wonderful, delicious treat of a novel that conjures up images of summer parties with famous guests. I adored it. It made me want to run off to the French Riviera, soak up the sunshine, sip cocktails and wear big sunglasses!
This is the fictionalised story of Sara and Gerald Murphy, the real life inspiration behind F.Scott Fitzgerald's 'Tender Is the Night'.
This book has the most perfect opening line which just gives you a taster of how beautiful Liza Klaussmann's writing is. So many beautiful lines stood out to me throughout this book. I loved the way she seamlessly blended together real life and fictional characters. There's love, loss, betrayal and cocktails – all perfect ingredients for a great read.
This is a wonderful, delicious treat of a novel that conjures up images of summer parties with famous guests. I adored it. It made me want to run off to the French Riviera, soak up the sunshine, sip cocktails and wear big sunglasses!
September 12, 2017
This book was not good. Like, impressively not good. And yet I kept hate reading it, because it's about France in the 1920s and that's one of my literary sweet spots. But in general, the writing was bad, and the plotting was dull, and maybe if I'd read Tender is the Night I would have cared more, but even this massive fan of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald couldn't get excited about this one. Also it did one of my historical literature biggest pet peeves, saying things like "Our friend Ernest Hemingway is coming for dinner!" No one actually talks like that. Save yourself and read A Moveable Feast instead.
May 20, 2015
Wonderfully light and rather compelling, I'll read anything that involves the Fitzgeralds. Either Kluasmann was too generous to the Murphys, or they are the antithesis to Dick and Nicole Diver. The creation of Owen was completely unnecessary and detracted significantly from the flow of the book, not to mention the resolution added no nuance to the introduction - how did Gerald react? Did he even find out? We don't know. Owen added excessive drama to a story that needed no additional flair. The blending of fiction and fact was messy.
April 1, 2015
This book is amazing and beautiful and heartbreaking. I have only just finished it, and can't find the words to describe it, as I'm feeling very emotional. She writes so beautifully, you can feel yourself there, amongst the characters. I hadn't realised the story was based on real people until I read the author's note, but I'm so glad they were, as they were very real to me. I can highly recommend it.
September 1, 2015
Mmmm...so so. A fictionalised account of the real life glamorous expats Gerald and Sara Murphy. This novel takes a good while to get going, the middle was very entertaining and evoked the 20's setting very well, but the end with the masses of letters felt like too much filler and felt a little disorganised and rushed. In general I felt like this book was just too long, but the Murphy story was an interesting one to tell, and at its peak this is entertaining and engrossing.
October 10, 2020
4.5*
What an interesting story about real people! This is fictional biography of Sara and Gerald Murphy and their VILLA AMERICA in French Riviera with dazzling parties during the jazz age.
Imagine Picasso and his wife Olga, Hemingway and Zelda with Scott Fitzgeralds drinking champagne eating caviar and getting suntan at the beach. You will meet all of them and so many more.
Scott always claimed that his Tender is the Night was based on Murphy’s life. Even though Sara was furious about it
Nicely written wealthy and influential family story, with colourful characters. As the times changes their life gets mixed with secretive young pilot and the question is, will their marriage can handle the hard times?
Fun, tragic and nicely written.
And can you imagine, this woman manage to be the muse to so many great artists? Picasso was obsessed by painting her, Scott was in love and Hemingway based a book as well
Short video about it:
https://youtu.be/IplXimG5nUc
What an interesting story about real people! This is fictional biography of Sara and Gerald Murphy and their VILLA AMERICA in French Riviera with dazzling parties during the jazz age.
Imagine Picasso and his wife Olga, Hemingway and Zelda with Scott Fitzgeralds drinking champagne eating caviar and getting suntan at the beach. You will meet all of them and so many more.
Scott always claimed that his Tender is the Night was based on Murphy’s life. Even though Sara was furious about it
Nicely written wealthy and influential family story, with colourful characters. As the times changes their life gets mixed with secretive young pilot and the question is, will their marriage can handle the hard times?
Fun, tragic and nicely written.
And can you imagine, this woman manage to be the muse to so many great artists? Picasso was obsessed by painting her, Scott was in love and Hemingway based a book as well
Short video about it:
https://youtu.be/IplXimG5nUc
July 29, 2022
Absolutely loved this! It felt like a literary beach read, but by no means as disparaging as that sounds. Entertaining, informative and very deftly done. It encouraged me to seek out Gerald Murphy's art (which is fabulous) and taught me a great deal. Recommended.
December 10, 2016
I'm really conflicted about this book:
I love the subject matter and that may be part of the problem---very high hopes and great expectations which in general were not met.
The problem centers on the fact that I read EVERYBODY WAS SO YOUNG about the Murphy's and their set; it was a non-fiction account of their lives as a young married couple on the French Riviera. It was more mysterious, more nuanced, and let the reader form their own impression about the relationship between Sara and Gerald Murphy. Specifically, Gerald's sexuality was not a central issue in the book and the reader could choose to consider the subject as central to his persona, or not. In Villa America, Gerald's latent homosexuality was a dominant element in the novel.
I found it disconcerting that the non-fiction account left this an open subject, while the novel just marched in full-force with a homosexual love affair that could never have a happy ending.
Liza Klaussman was very direct in her afterward; she commented on the freedom of the novelist versus the responsibility of the non-fiction writer. Despite that acknowledgment, I found the novel much less satisfying than the factual account. I preferred "meeting" the characters as they really were, rather than as the novelist imagined them.
One thing that this novel did do for me, it has inspired me to re-read Fitzgerald's TENDER IS THE NIGHT. I am interested in understanding how he saw Gerald and Sara Murphy. Klaussmann indicates that the couple were insulted by their friend's portrait of them; I am curious to see what my impressions will be.
I love the subject matter and that may be part of the problem---very high hopes and great expectations which in general were not met.
The problem centers on the fact that I read EVERYBODY WAS SO YOUNG about the Murphy's and their set; it was a non-fiction account of their lives as a young married couple on the French Riviera. It was more mysterious, more nuanced, and let the reader form their own impression about the relationship between Sara and Gerald Murphy. Specifically, Gerald's sexuality was not a central issue in the book and the reader could choose to consider the subject as central to his persona, or not. In Villa America, Gerald's latent homosexuality was a dominant element in the novel.
I found it disconcerting that the non-fiction account left this an open subject, while the novel just marched in full-force with a homosexual love affair that could never have a happy ending.
Liza Klaussman was very direct in her afterward; she commented on the freedom of the novelist versus the responsibility of the non-fiction writer. Despite that acknowledgment, I found the novel much less satisfying than the factual account. I preferred "meeting" the characters as they really were, rather than as the novelist imagined them.
One thing that this novel did do for me, it has inspired me to re-read Fitzgerald's TENDER IS THE NIGHT. I am interested in understanding how he saw Gerald and Sara Murphy. Klaussmann indicates that the couple were insulted by their friend's portrait of them; I am curious to see what my impressions will be.
September 2, 2015
I have been interested in Gerald and Sara Murphy for decades since I fell in love with the writings of F Scott Fitzgerald. I have read many books on the famous, glamorous couple. And FSF writings based on the couple. This book is based on a story behind the story behind the story. I found the book well researched and well written. My only heartbreak is the way FSF is being treated in historical novels these last few years, Zelda included. She is like a crazy butterfly on drugs and he is a drunk and idiot. I know he drank but was he really such a complete jerk. I guess it's just my feelings are hurt. But the book was captivating, like watching a train wreck you can't take your eyes off. It is a love story on more than one plane. It's the love of art, the love of family, and the love between men and women and men.
December 21, 2015
I didn't really enjoy this book, the writing style is really good but it just didn't fit for me. Typically, if a book doesn't fit for me I wont struggle through to finish it which is what I did with this book. It's not a bad book but it just didn't suit me and I really hope to try it again sometime in the future.
I won this book through goodreads first reads.
I won this book through goodreads first reads.
August 19, 2015
Villa America is a book based on the real characters of Tender is the Night by Scott Fitzgerald. In fact, everyone in this book is based on actual history, except for the pilot Owen. I so wish I had known this before I picked it up. (yea, I just skimmed the summary before i started reading this, i do that sometimes) I only discovered that halfway through the reading. I don’t think the summary does a good enough job of conveying that this is a book based upon the people who influenced another book(s). That piece of information explains the timeline jumps and quirks of characters.
This book focuses in on the lives of Gerald and Sara Murphy. They were a real life couple: rich, and well liked. They were the good friends of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, the Picassos, John Dos Passos and Archibald MacLeish: the cream of the 1920s arts world. From their humble beginnings to the tragedy that defined them, this story is like a tell-all, with a twist. Gerald was a well known cubist style painter, but he sometimes referred to his “defect”. In Villa America we explore a taboo romance that might have been what he was referring to.
As I mentioned earlier, the timeline jumps from year to year. The book starts in 1898 and goes through 1937. It skips a few years in between there. The story highlights the main events of these two characters. The distinction between actual events and fiction is blurry in this story. The author has included letters and dialogue, along with well scripted scenes. This story is beautifully written. The reader can follow Sara and Gerald from their first meeting into their established relationship. The title is the name of their home in France, Villa America. They don’t get Villa America until a little past the halfway mark, so we get a lot of back-story. From a historical perspective, this was a very interesting tale. The world changed so much over the 40 years or so years covered in this tale, and the people of this time were much different. Referred to as a the "greatest generation", this was a great and terrible time to be alive.
The introduction of the character of Owen, a pilot, changes everything for the Murphys. His wounded past and observing nature makes him a very popular figure in their society. The speculation of his true nature unproved. The Murphy’s wrap him into their fold and he changes everything for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Sara and Gerald were very interesting people and it is no wonder that they have been mentioned in so many people’s timelines. The Author’s Note clears everything up and gives more food for thought about the real people that inspire this, and few other fantastic reads.
This book focuses in on the lives of Gerald and Sara Murphy. They were a real life couple: rich, and well liked. They were the good friends of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, the Picassos, John Dos Passos and Archibald MacLeish: the cream of the 1920s arts world. From their humble beginnings to the tragedy that defined them, this story is like a tell-all, with a twist. Gerald was a well known cubist style painter, but he sometimes referred to his “defect”. In Villa America we explore a taboo romance that might have been what he was referring to.
As I mentioned earlier, the timeline jumps from year to year. The book starts in 1898 and goes through 1937. It skips a few years in between there. The story highlights the main events of these two characters. The distinction between actual events and fiction is blurry in this story. The author has included letters and dialogue, along with well scripted scenes. This story is beautifully written. The reader can follow Sara and Gerald from their first meeting into their established relationship. The title is the name of their home in France, Villa America. They don’t get Villa America until a little past the halfway mark, so we get a lot of back-story. From a historical perspective, this was a very interesting tale. The world changed so much over the 40 years or so years covered in this tale, and the people of this time were much different. Referred to as a the "greatest generation", this was a great and terrible time to be alive.
The introduction of the character of Owen, a pilot, changes everything for the Murphys. His wounded past and observing nature makes him a very popular figure in their society. The speculation of his true nature unproved. The Murphy’s wrap him into their fold and he changes everything for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Sara and Gerald were very interesting people and it is no wonder that they have been mentioned in so many people’s timelines. The Author’s Note clears everything up and gives more food for thought about the real people that inspire this, and few other fantastic reads.
April 24, 2015
Following the recent literary craze for the lives of early 20th century celebrities, in her second novel Villa America, Klaussmann follows hotly on the footsteps of authors like Therese Anne Fowler, creating, with the help of some thorough research and undoubtable passion for her subject, her own account of the lives and loves of Sara and Gerald Murphy; the ultimate lost generation power couple.
From their respective privileged childhoods in the city, Sara and Gerald’s relationship was a pitch-perfect meeting of minds that would create not only a beautiful young family, but also, in their Antibes home, a haven of beauty, friendship and inspiration where some of the greatest artistic minds of the 20th century came to play.
Villa America plays fast and loose on the facts, intermingling real letters from characters such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Dos Passos with entirely imagined people and circumstances that simply lend more weight to an extraordinarily exciting place and time.
Artistic license aside, Klaussmann’s portraits ring true both in deed and tone for each of her meticulously studied characters; from a Hemingway bursting with bravado and swagger to a young Gerald Murphy; heart-breaking in his loneliness and simple desire for affection.
A strong cast needs a background to match and here it is displayed with confidence. The sweeping turquoise vistas juxtaposed with the craggy shoreline and lush gardens create a world potent enough to command the drama it contains. With the wind hissing through the trees and the scent of eucalyptus riding on the air, Sara glides forward to welcome you and the reader too suddenly becomes enfolded in this unique and powerful world.
At once gripping and comforting, Klaussmann’s new novel will leave you desperate to discover more about these captivating, life-loving legends.
http://www.welovethisbook.com/reviews...
From their respective privileged childhoods in the city, Sara and Gerald’s relationship was a pitch-perfect meeting of minds that would create not only a beautiful young family, but also, in their Antibes home, a haven of beauty, friendship and inspiration where some of the greatest artistic minds of the 20th century came to play.
Villa America plays fast and loose on the facts, intermingling real letters from characters such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Dos Passos with entirely imagined people and circumstances that simply lend more weight to an extraordinarily exciting place and time.
Artistic license aside, Klaussmann’s portraits ring true both in deed and tone for each of her meticulously studied characters; from a Hemingway bursting with bravado and swagger to a young Gerald Murphy; heart-breaking in his loneliness and simple desire for affection.
A strong cast needs a background to match and here it is displayed with confidence. The sweeping turquoise vistas juxtaposed with the craggy shoreline and lush gardens create a world potent enough to command the drama it contains. With the wind hissing through the trees and the scent of eucalyptus riding on the air, Sara glides forward to welcome you and the reader too suddenly becomes enfolded in this unique and powerful world.
At once gripping and comforting, Klaussmann’s new novel will leave you desperate to discover more about these captivating, life-loving legends.
http://www.welovethisbook.com/reviews...
June 9, 2015
A Long Look at the Lost Generation
If you're a fan of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or Picasso, you'll be amused to find all these characters and others putting in an appearance in this long novel.
Sara and Gerald Murphy are expats living on the Riviera in the early 1920s after the First World War. They're wealthy, sociable and devoted to each other and their children to the extent that they inspire jealousy in some of their friends. The era is depicted well from the late 1800s when Gerald and Sara meet to the early 1900s when they've established themselves on the French Riviera.
The first half of the book is devoted to the strict families Gerald and Sara grew up in. They fight through the restrictions of their time and eventually marry. This is almost a standalone historical romance. As part of the book, I thought it was too long with too much backstory and too much description.
The second half of the book focuses on the Murphy's life on the French Riviera. Here we meet their famous and not so famous friends and glimpse the glamorous life style of wealthy Americans in that era. Behind the glamour of the parties, the Murphy's marriage matures with some surprising twists.
I enjoyed this book because I find the lost generation fascinating. However, the book is very long. The first half was particularly slow going into detail about life in the late 1800s.
The pace picked up slightly in the second half of the novel. Some of the attraction was the famous people who fell under the Murphy's spell. The portrayal of these characters is realistic from what I've read. Zelda and Scott are particularly well portrayed with their frighteningly fraught marriage and uninhibited drinking.
The book has many things to recommend it, but if you want a quick read, this is not it. If you want to savor the 1920s on the Riviera, you may enjoy it.
I reviewed this book for the Amazon Vine Program.
If you're a fan of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or Picasso, you'll be amused to find all these characters and others putting in an appearance in this long novel.
Sara and Gerald Murphy are expats living on the Riviera in the early 1920s after the First World War. They're wealthy, sociable and devoted to each other and their children to the extent that they inspire jealousy in some of their friends. The era is depicted well from the late 1800s when Gerald and Sara meet to the early 1900s when they've established themselves on the French Riviera.
The first half of the book is devoted to the strict families Gerald and Sara grew up in. They fight through the restrictions of their time and eventually marry. This is almost a standalone historical romance. As part of the book, I thought it was too long with too much backstory and too much description.
The second half of the book focuses on the Murphy's life on the French Riviera. Here we meet their famous and not so famous friends and glimpse the glamorous life style of wealthy Americans in that era. Behind the glamour of the parties, the Murphy's marriage matures with some surprising twists.
I enjoyed this book because I find the lost generation fascinating. However, the book is very long. The first half was particularly slow going into detail about life in the late 1800s.
The pace picked up slightly in the second half of the novel. Some of the attraction was the famous people who fell under the Murphy's spell. The portrayal of these characters is realistic from what I've read. Zelda and Scott are particularly well portrayed with their frighteningly fraught marriage and uninhibited drinking.
The book has many things to recommend it, but if you want a quick read, this is not it. If you want to savor the 1920s on the Riviera, you may enjoy it.
I reviewed this book for the Amazon Vine Program.
August 26, 2015
This is the beautifully written story which details the lives of the factual couple Gerald and Sara Murphy. Set in the Golden Age it charts Gerald and Sara from his austere but wealthy childhood , through her emergence onto the New York and European social scene to their blossoming romance and their escape to an idyllic paradise on the French Riviera. Here they built their dream home and hosted alcohol soaked parties overlooking sun kissed beaches for their circle of artistic elite friends including Hemingway and the women in his life, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald , Cole Porter and Picasso amongst others. Running parallel is the fictional story of the lonely but charismatic Owen Chambers who originates from a rural American island and whose life eventually becomes entwined with theirs. This book is so atmospheric and authentically stylised that one cannot help but become immersed in the opulence of the luxurious existence. And while this novel is about living life, and loving it is also loss. From an era where life seems so vibrant , exciting and new it becomes apparent that everything is transient and even amidst so much to be grateful there is still unhappiness, loneliness, confusion and loss. I really enjoyed this novel but I felt somewhat disappointed when I realised that Owen Chambers was a fictional character however, I managed to reconcile this with the book's artistic licence and a little part of me can't help but wish that maybe some similar plot line could possibly have taken place. I felt that the opening of the book weighed heavily on me throughout the depiction of happier events as even amidst all the parties , champagne and sunshine , I could not forget what was in store for these protagonists. This in some ways lessened the impact of the outcome but nonetheless , as a contradiction, held me until the end.
May 14, 2015
4.5/5
Villa America by Liza Klaussmann is based on the actual home on the French Riviera used by Sara and Gerald Murphy as a refuge in the 1920s, the Murphy’s also happen to be the inspiration for Fitzgerald’s, Tender Is The Night, which is why I chose to read this book to begin with, I am quite a fan of Fitzgerald’s literary works. Klaussmann has created a beautifully atmospheric novel set in the 1920s with a rather eclectic group of expats who appear to be carefree with their numerous parties and at least on the surface, their utterly carefree lifestyles. However, underneath the opulence and apparent lack of concerns lies a group rife with secrets and flaws. Villa America is a detailed exploration into the “lost generation” and of the golden age of the 20s that was unable to last forever. Fortunately for the reader Klaussmann deftly portrays the lives of some very famous people, and for this reader, some of my favorite authors of the time period. For readers not overly interested in the authors of this time period, this book may come off as more historical and slower paced. I for one would have liked to have learned even more and felt the pacing of the story was quite masterfully done and well researched. I would recommend Villa American to those who enjoy reading about “the lost generation” and the power couple who inspired authors and helped make the French Riviera the place to be for the rich and famous.
November 15, 2016
From the author of "Tigers in Red Weather", comes another stunning novel. Set against the glamorous backdrop of the Cap d'Antibes, nestled between Nice and Cannes on the French Riviera, this is a sun-drenched saga with one foot firmly based in reality and one in fictional fantasy.
The reality element is the central couple - Sara and Gerald Murphy and their artistic circle of friends - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Dorothy Parker and Pablo Picasso, to name but a few. A group of people who sum up the decadence of the era with their carefree attitude to everything from cars to champagne to commitment. However as time progresses, the cracks start to appear in their seemingly perfect existence, and their golden glow becomes horribly tarnished as infidelities, hidden sexualities and death's cold fingers invade their world.
A beautifully written and meticulously researched novel, this is a wonderful exploration of a slice of literary history - F. Scott Fitzgerald based the central characters in "Tender is the Night" on Sara and Gerald. As the reader follows them along the fascinating arc of their lives, from challenging lows to dizzying highs, this tale will engross you from start to finish.
The reality element is the central couple - Sara and Gerald Murphy and their artistic circle of friends - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Dorothy Parker and Pablo Picasso, to name but a few. A group of people who sum up the decadence of the era with their carefree attitude to everything from cars to champagne to commitment. However as time progresses, the cracks start to appear in their seemingly perfect existence, and their golden glow becomes horribly tarnished as infidelities, hidden sexualities and death's cold fingers invade their world.
A beautifully written and meticulously researched novel, this is a wonderful exploration of a slice of literary history - F. Scott Fitzgerald based the central characters in "Tender is the Night" on Sara and Gerald. As the reader follows them along the fascinating arc of their lives, from challenging lows to dizzying highs, this tale will engross you from start to finish.
August 31, 2015
Loved this. The writing and characterization is rich and colorful. The relationship between Sara and Gerald (the inspiration for the couple in Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night) is fascinating. It’s tricky to create fictional characters out of real people–and well-documented real people, no less–but this book seems to honor them in a surprisingly profound, moving way. Klaussmann references a few sources of inspiration for the book in the acknowledgments, including this 1962 piece from The New Yorker. It was fun to read that profile right after finishing the book. This was one of the most pleasurable reading experiences I’ve had so far this year.
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