When We Were Three: Travel Albums of George Platt Lynes, Monroe Wheeler and Glenway Wescot 1925-1935

by James Crump, Anatole Pohorilenko, Monroe Wheeler (Photographer)

The travel albums of photographer George Platt Lynes, publisher Monroe Wheeler, and writer Glenway Wescott are illuminating documents of the American expatriate years. Together, this extraordinary minage-`-trois spent the heady interwar period frequenting Paris, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and other European cities, meeting up with such lively personalities as Thornton Wilder, Jean Cocteau, Katherine Anne Porter, Man Ray, Reni Crevel, and Christian Birard. Inspired by the encouragement of Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, and Jane Heap, all three men went on to pursue vibrant careers in the arts. Platt Lynes became a celebrated photographer in 1931; Wheeler, with Wescotts sister-in-law, Barbara Harrison, started the extraordinary little press, Harrison of Paris in 1930; and Wescott became a bestselling fiction writer in 1927. The photographs represented here date from the threesomes first meeting, and underscore the intimate bond they shared. It is a story of youthfu! l passion and enthusiasm that spea ks to the enduring ties that held these three talented men together throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT

299 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another glimpse into the glamorous, sun-dappled exploits of young and beautiful and talented American ex-pats in Europe between the Wars. Centering around the decades-spanning but somewhat uneasy ménage à trois established by Glenway Wescott, Monroe Wheeler, and George Platt Lynes, the 100-page essay by Anatole Pohorilenko (which, unfortunately, isn't very well written--it gives the impression of being translated into English by someone who isn't very familiar with the rhythms of the language) captures the world these three men moved in, serving as the inspiration for their art and their intertwined emotional and sexual relationships. The centerpiece and raison d'être of the book, however, is the 150 or so pages of personal photos from the trio's travel albums, which feature exotic locales and many famous faces (Cocteau, Stein and Toklas, Paul Robeson, Bourgoint, Katherine Anne Porter, among many others). Not the most well-known figures of this well-known epoch, but almost more interesting because of it.

[Anne Sanow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous photographic travelogue that really captures the golden-era 1920s and 30s in their mannered, erotic splendor. Also great as an art-book gift.

[Gareth Schweitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The challenges of a longterm three way gay relationship...when you're rich and well-connected, it ain't all that bad!

Some beautiful photos documenting the who's who of the early 20th century international set!