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Wild Heart: A Life: Natalie Clifford Barney and the Decadence of Literary Paris
Born in 1876, Natalie Barney-beautiful, charismatic, brilliant and wealthy-was expected to marry well and lead the conventional life of a privileged society woman. But Natalie had no interest in marriage and made no secret of the fact that she was attracted to women. Brought up by a talented and rebellious mother-the painter Alice Barney-Natalie cultivated an interest in poetry and the arts. When she moved to Paris in the early 1900s, she plunged into the city's literary scene, opening a famed Left Bank literary salon and engaging in a string of scandalous affairs with courtesan Liane de Pougy, poet Renee Vivien, and painter Romaine Brooks, among others. For the rest of her long and controversial life Natalie Barney was revered by writers for her generous, eccentric spirit and reviled by high society for her sexual appetite. In the end, she served as an inspiration and came to know many of the greatest names of 20th century arts and letters-including Proust, Colette, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Isadora Duncan, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and Truman Capote.
A dazzling literary biography, Wild Heart: A Life is a story of a woman who has been an icon to many. Set against the backdrop of two different societies-Victorian America and Belle Epoque Europe—Wild Heart: A Life beautifully captures the richness of their lore.
A dazzling literary biography, Wild Heart: A Life is a story of a woman who has been an icon to many. Set against the backdrop of two different societies-Victorian America and Belle Epoque Europe—Wild Heart: A Life beautifully captures the richness of their lore.
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
54 people are currently reading
1541 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Rodriguez
8 books15 followersSuzanne Rodriguez is a journalist and the author of three non-fiction books and hundreds of national magazine and newspaper articles. Suzanne’s writing covers numerous topics, including travel, food, wine, history, art, people, business, and technology. She lives in the town of Sonoma, California. When not at her desk, Suzanne can be found on steep hiking trails, traveling, enjoying great meals in wonderful dives or Michelin-starred restaurants, and pursuing research. She is currently completing a novel about a fascinating but little-known aspect of early California history.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 22, 2012
Absolutely amazing book! If you are interested in the Belle Epoque or literary Paris during the 1920's and 1930's this is THE book to start with. It takes you on a tour of 2 time periods and how the Belle Epoque had no other way to end but in the glittering society that World War 1 left. How no other place but Paris could have held so many literary talents and stars. And how this one woman brought them all together in one literary salon that lasted for 60 years is... amazing. A tour de force of a world and time gone by, never to return.
Natalie Clifford Barney knew tham all: Djuna Barnes, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, Collette, T.S. Elliot, Proust, Hemingway, Pauline Tarn, the Fitzgeralds; both F. Scott and Zelda, Dolly Wilde, the list goes on and on. The sheer amount of American expatriot writers in Paris during this time was simply astounding and we get a front row seat to it all in this book.
Barney was a feminist before there was even such a thing as one beyond being a suffragist. She became a patron of many female writers and advanced the notion of the female arts. A firm reaction to the art and literary world's misogyny towards women. She was an out and proud lesbian LONG before such a thing was even heard of or thought of. Being an out lesbian simply just wasn't done at that time. It didn't exist.
However Ms. Rodriguez, while anamoured with Natalie, isn't so besotted that she is blind to Natalie's faults. Seemingly unable to be faithful, Natalie cheated on each and every one of her lovers. She even helped drive one of them to a long and slow suicide. In addition, though very liberal on many fronts and being 1/4 Jewish herself, Natalie Barney was or became to be an anti-Semite. Her writings include many anti-Semitic statements in the years leading up to World War 2.
No is really sure why she wrote such terrible things and many ideas are put forth:
1. She was a product of her environment and times and her enrivonment and times were frought with rabid anti-Semitism.
2. She was politically "stupid" and had no real idea what she was supporting and saying.
3. She feared a German conquest of France and used her writings as a way to prove her Protestantism and lack of any Jewish blood.
The debate rages and 40 years after her death at 95, no one will ever be entirely sure why she wrote such awful things. The anti-Semitism seems to have vanished from her writings post WW2, so perhaps their may be some truth to the third option. I certainly hope so.
I think the book is stronger for telling Natalie's full story, not just the flattering parts of it. Truly she got more out of life than life had to give. A book I simply could not put down.
Natalie Clifford Barney knew tham all: Djuna Barnes, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, Collette, T.S. Elliot, Proust, Hemingway, Pauline Tarn, the Fitzgeralds; both F. Scott and Zelda, Dolly Wilde, the list goes on and on. The sheer amount of American expatriot writers in Paris during this time was simply astounding and we get a front row seat to it all in this book.
Barney was a feminist before there was even such a thing as one beyond being a suffragist. She became a patron of many female writers and advanced the notion of the female arts. A firm reaction to the art and literary world's misogyny towards women. She was an out and proud lesbian LONG before such a thing was even heard of or thought of. Being an out lesbian simply just wasn't done at that time. It didn't exist.
However Ms. Rodriguez, while anamoured with Natalie, isn't so besotted that she is blind to Natalie's faults. Seemingly unable to be faithful, Natalie cheated on each and every one of her lovers. She even helped drive one of them to a long and slow suicide. In addition, though very liberal on many fronts and being 1/4 Jewish herself, Natalie Barney was or became to be an anti-Semite. Her writings include many anti-Semitic statements in the years leading up to World War 2.
No is really sure why she wrote such terrible things and many ideas are put forth:
1. She was a product of her environment and times and her enrivonment and times were frought with rabid anti-Semitism.
2. She was politically "stupid" and had no real idea what she was supporting and saying.
3. She feared a German conquest of France and used her writings as a way to prove her Protestantism and lack of any Jewish blood.
The debate rages and 40 years after her death at 95, no one will ever be entirely sure why she wrote such awful things. The anti-Semitism seems to have vanished from her writings post WW2, so perhaps their may be some truth to the third option. I certainly hope so.
I think the book is stronger for telling Natalie's full story, not just the flattering parts of it. Truly she got more out of life than life had to give. A book I simply could not put down.
October 2, 2019
My acquaintance with NCB began in about 1977 when, as a teenager, I stumbled upon a biography of her by George Wickes in my local small town TG&Y, of all places. What a surprise! I was enchanted with turn of the century Paris and the variety of characters that have become a part of my life since.
This lively biography by Suzanne Rodriguez brought back to me the essence of discovery and affection that I had nearly forgotten, or more aptly placed on the shelf until rediscovered decades later.
The story is familiar with added details that enhanced the times and the people. Who can forget Colette’s description of Pauline Tarn’s dark and dusky apartment?
My rating is actually more like 4.5 and someday I would read it again.
This lively biography by Suzanne Rodriguez brought back to me the essence of discovery and affection that I had nearly forgotten, or more aptly placed on the shelf until rediscovered decades later.
The story is familiar with added details that enhanced the times and the people. Who can forget Colette’s description of Pauline Tarn’s dark and dusky apartment?
My rating is actually more like 4.5 and someday I would read it again.
August 8, 2015
The four balled-up-kleenex-end of this book left me feeling like I was grieving the loss of a friend.
Rodriguez's portrait is loving, but unflinching. Germaine Lefranq, quoted by Rodriguez in the latter half of the book, says it rather well, I think: "I admire Miss Barney [...] and I do not want to be one of those cowardly admirers who, for justifying the person they admire, deny their defects [and] camouflage their particularities, reducing them to nothing" (312).
I am beyong grateful that I stumbled across Wild Heart at a used book sale; its subject was a real life-changer.
Rodriguez's portrait is loving, but unflinching. Germaine Lefranq, quoted by Rodriguez in the latter half of the book, says it rather well, I think: "I admire Miss Barney [...] and I do not want to be one of those cowardly admirers who, for justifying the person they admire, deny their defects [and] camouflage their particularities, reducing them to nothing" (312).
I am beyong grateful that I stumbled across Wild Heart at a used book sale; its subject was a real life-changer.
February 10, 2009
I picked up this book because the cover appealed to my love of the Victorian. And promptly fell head over heels for Natalie, her amazing wit, daring and charisma, even before she managed, at only 23, to seduce the Liane D'Pougy the most famous of courtesan of the time. Natalie and Renee Vivien defined my last two years in college.
March 24, 2008
The world's greatest lesbian lothario that no one has ever heard of. The author transports us to Natalie Barney's spoiled Parisian expat world of lesbian artists, scandal, privilege, and literary fame. Juicy!
June 29, 2018
lesbian poetess extraordinaire. wish i had a time machine to go back and hang out in her salon parties
November 7, 2024
Look, I could be a hater of Natalie Barney, but if I had $150mil I too would move to Paris, write mediocre poetry, and bonk half of the French literary scene.
This is a biography about a rich white lady whose major accomplishment was declaring that it was a perfectly normal thing to be a lesbian and leading her queer, non-monogamous life with impunity.
The biography makes me respect her more towards the end of her life by pointing out her concrete accomplishments, many of which I'm not sure I'd call feminist so much as women-centered.
However, much of it, especially towards the beginning, is focused on the luxury of her lifestyle: the houses, the travel, the truly astonishing amount of free time. It's obvious that the author finds that kind of wealth as being worthwhile, desired.
The author also harps a lot about both the feminism and the intelligence of Barney and as a result tells more than shows.
Maybe it's just obvious from my eyes that Natalie Barney had a wicked bad case of ADHD and that colored everything about her: her focus on sexual conquest, the breadth but not depth of her knowledge, her work that might have been great if she'd been able to thoroughly edit it, her quick wit and her focus on epigrams, her nearly boundless energy to the end of her life.
People familiar with polyamorous people will recognize her as a certain subtype, the kind who is always chasing NRE. To her credit, she seems to have both tamed the worst of her impulsiveness, and maintained a relationship with a number of fairly prickly people. I don't think I could handle dating Romaine Brooks, the angry recluse who I wish had gotten over herself.
Maybe it's care of Rodriguez's writing skills, maybe it's because I've spent a lot of time around polyamorous lesbians, but the people in the book felt real and three dimensional. I admit that reading this has affected my psyche more than I would like.
This is a biography about a rich white lady whose major accomplishment was declaring that it was a perfectly normal thing to be a lesbian and leading her queer, non-monogamous life with impunity.
The biography makes me respect her more towards the end of her life by pointing out her concrete accomplishments, many of which I'm not sure I'd call feminist so much as women-centered.
However, much of it, especially towards the beginning, is focused on the luxury of her lifestyle: the houses, the travel, the truly astonishing amount of free time. It's obvious that the author finds that kind of wealth as being worthwhile, desired.
The author also harps a lot about both the feminism and the intelligence of Barney and as a result tells more than shows.
Maybe it's just obvious from my eyes that Natalie Barney had a wicked bad case of ADHD and that colored everything about her: her focus on sexual conquest, the breadth but not depth of her knowledge, her work that might have been great if she'd been able to thoroughly edit it, her quick wit and her focus on epigrams, her nearly boundless energy to the end of her life.
People familiar with polyamorous people will recognize her as a certain subtype, the kind who is always chasing NRE. To her credit, she seems to have both tamed the worst of her impulsiveness, and maintained a relationship with a number of fairly prickly people. I don't think I could handle dating Romaine Brooks, the angry recluse who I wish had gotten over herself.
Maybe it's care of Rodriguez's writing skills, maybe it's because I've spent a lot of time around polyamorous lesbians, but the people in the book felt real and three dimensional. I admit that reading this has affected my psyche more than I would like.
May 18, 2012
The author obviously admires all aspects of Nathalie Barney. She even tries to excuse the frequent
anti-semitic fragments that come up in her writings. She finds Nathalie very intelligent, which is
somewhat inconsistent with Nathalie's professed interest in numerology. Instead of intelligent, I'd
rather call Miss Barney quick-witted, a capability that was highly admired in the salons of the
time. On the other hand, one has to appreciate how Ms Barney openly came out for her sexual preferences
and acted as if they were completely natural. A courageous stance to take in those days. For the
rest, she seemed to be a mediocre writer and a predatory lover who preferred the chase to the
relationship and, once the chase is finished, quickly lost interest. Add to that a larger than usual
dose of selfishness, and you have my reasons for not liking Miss Barney. Finally, the author stays a
bit too close to the subject, which explains my rather low score. A similar href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28... biography of Colette is
a much better read, also if you want to learn about the 'belle époque'.
anti-semitic fragments that come up in her writings. She finds Nathalie very intelligent, which is
somewhat inconsistent with Nathalie's professed interest in numerology. Instead of intelligent, I'd
rather call Miss Barney quick-witted, a capability that was highly admired in the salons of the
time. On the other hand, one has to appreciate how Ms Barney openly came out for her sexual preferences
and acted as if they were completely natural. A courageous stance to take in those days. For the
rest, she seemed to be a mediocre writer and a predatory lover who preferred the chase to the
relationship and, once the chase is finished, quickly lost interest. Add to that a larger than usual
dose of selfishness, and you have my reasons for not liking Miss Barney. Finally, the author stays a
bit too close to the subject, which explains my rather low score. A similar href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28... biography of Colette is
a much better read, also if you want to learn about the 'belle époque'.
December 28, 2018
There is so much to this story! Starting with Natalie's mother, this family cross the paths of the most famous people of their eras. I say "eras" plural because one of the most fascinating things about Natalie are the eras that come together and overlap in her life. She started out a scandal, an openly homosexual woman with many lovers before the first World War. Life in America would have been impossible- she went to Paris, where she stayed. By the end of the Second World War she was nearly forgotten, except by the famous writers frequenting her salon and her bed in Paris. And then in the 1970s (the 1970s! what a span of a life!!) to be rediscovered in a world where homosexual people in America had a level of freedom and open communication that would have been impossible to imagine in the first era of her life. What. A. Life!
May 26, 2020
Rodriguez’s writing comes off as a love letter to this famous Amazon of Literary Paris, and because of it I was enraptured right from the beginning. NCB led an interesting, wild, and (mostly) happy life, and I am sad that this is the first time I’m ever learning of this woman. What I loved most was that it’s clear her true legacy lies in the way she was steadfastly sure of herself and who she loved, and how she treated and supported others up until her last day. This was a fantastic biography, and I’ll be sad to part with it.
December 8, 2009
I found this quite a good biography of a fascinating woman. It's perhaps not quite as unbiased as one could wish, as Rodriguez's deep admiration for Barney is very apparent, but she does make every effort to examine fairly Barney's faults (such as her unfaithfulness and occasional anti-Semitism) as well as her strengths.
October 15, 2025
Bueno pues la tal Natalie era un poco cabra loca, hacía lo que le daba la gana (que cuando tienes mucho dinero y eres mona es considerablemente más fácil) y trataba a la gente regular, PERO también tenía su mérito hacer lo que te daba la gana en esa época si eras una mujer, se convirtió en la protagonista de una parte interesantísima de la historia sáfica y ha hecho que me entren ganas de investigar más sobre el resto de mujeres de su círculo, así que ni tan mal.
Un libro bastante completito, mucha información, mucho drama y tela de gente muy poco heterosexual por todas partes.
La única pega que puedo poner es que a veces hay DEMASIADA información, no todos los datos son datos interesantes o útiles y se podría haber resumido un poco más para transmitir su historia sin tanto ruido de fondo.
Un libro bastante completito, mucha información, mucho drama y tela de gente muy poco heterosexual por todas partes.
La única pega que puedo poner es que a veces hay DEMASIADA información, no todos los datos son datos interesantes o útiles y se podría haber resumido un poco más para transmitir su historia sin tanto ruido de fondo.
December 22, 2020
This book was a meandering journey, but sparked many meaningful conversations and added quite a few books to my to-read list.
April 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It describes Natalie Barney, a wealthy American heiress and sometime writer who lived a carefree - to some extent - lesbian life on the Left Bank of Paris, at times overlapping with more famous American expats like Gertrude Stein (they walked their dogs together) and Hemingway, as well as famous French Parisians such as Colette and Guillaume Apollinaire. It fits well into one of my hobbies, reading about life and the arts in Paris from 1900 to WW2.
It's written in a nice hybrid way: scholarly (carefully written with footnotes & biblio.) but not averse to throwing in zingers, e.g. "it could have been a great philosophical treatise if only she had battled that damnable proclivity toward laziness", that keep the reader awake & alert even without caffeine.
It's a very interesting study in human personality and relationships because Natalie had such personal charisma and was happy to spread it across most of Europe as she built her network of friends and lovers. Rodriguez is a talented writer and the book has many beautifully evocative descriptions. For example, the "hyphenated" house that Natalie and Romaine built on the Cote d'Azur:
"Surrounded by tall coastal pines, the white, flat-roofed buildings of Trait d'Union had a distinctly Mediterranean look. There was a large terrace, where Natalie liked to curl up on a chaise and read. Long dinners were held in the dining room with its huge marble table. On fine clear nights friends were brought up to the roof, and everyone sprawled on cushions to gaze at the stars while eating homemade ice cream. Natalie loved the summer heat, the blissful quiet, the soothing grating of crickets, and driving each day to the nearby coast for the warm sea bathing."
I'd love to travel there tomorrow, see that house and spend a few days lounging around the Riviera!! Unfortunately, the house was destroyed in WW2.
Also, since I'm fond of the bracing chilly waters of Lake Superior in summer, I'd prefer it if those Mediterranean waters were a bit chillier!
Natalie herself was not without faults. She was polyamorous to the end, which caused the painful split with her lover Romaine Brooks. Nothing wrong with being polyamorous under the right ground rules; but Natalie was, as I recall, never very accepting of her lovers having multiple lovers themselves.
But it's still a very very interesting character study full of fascinating stories and characters. As a US citizen, I love reading about expats - especially permanent ones - because it's an unrealized dream of mine.
One complaint about the book, and as a frequent reader of biographies I find this common. The book ends immediately after Natalie's death. But as a reader, I'm invested in various other characters and want to know what happened to them. How much longer did Romaine live? Gertrude? Lily? Etc. etc. I would love to read the author's thoughts in a full chapter of assessment and reflection. It would also be a chance for the author to suggest conclusions and sweeping observations about the subject of the biography. But this bio, like most others, doesn't offer that. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book and recommend it highly! Anyone who enjoys history and Paris would likely enjoy it even if they had never heard of Natalie Barney.
It's written in a nice hybrid way: scholarly (carefully written with footnotes & biblio.) but not averse to throwing in zingers, e.g. "it could have been a great philosophical treatise if only she had battled that damnable proclivity toward laziness", that keep the reader awake & alert even without caffeine.
It's a very interesting study in human personality and relationships because Natalie had such personal charisma and was happy to spread it across most of Europe as she built her network of friends and lovers. Rodriguez is a talented writer and the book has many beautifully evocative descriptions. For example, the "hyphenated" house that Natalie and Romaine built on the Cote d'Azur:
"Surrounded by tall coastal pines, the white, flat-roofed buildings of Trait d'Union had a distinctly Mediterranean look. There was a large terrace, where Natalie liked to curl up on a chaise and read. Long dinners were held in the dining room with its huge marble table. On fine clear nights friends were brought up to the roof, and everyone sprawled on cushions to gaze at the stars while eating homemade ice cream. Natalie loved the summer heat, the blissful quiet, the soothing grating of crickets, and driving each day to the nearby coast for the warm sea bathing."
I'd love to travel there tomorrow, see that house and spend a few days lounging around the Riviera!! Unfortunately, the house was destroyed in WW2.
Also, since I'm fond of the bracing chilly waters of Lake Superior in summer, I'd prefer it if those Mediterranean waters were a bit chillier!
Natalie herself was not without faults. She was polyamorous to the end, which caused the painful split with her lover Romaine Brooks. Nothing wrong with being polyamorous under the right ground rules; but Natalie was, as I recall, never very accepting of her lovers having multiple lovers themselves.
But it's still a very very interesting character study full of fascinating stories and characters. As a US citizen, I love reading about expats - especially permanent ones - because it's an unrealized dream of mine.
One complaint about the book, and as a frequent reader of biographies I find this common. The book ends immediately after Natalie's death. But as a reader, I'm invested in various other characters and want to know what happened to them. How much longer did Romaine live? Gertrude? Lily? Etc. etc. I would love to read the author's thoughts in a full chapter of assessment and reflection. It would also be a chance for the author to suggest conclusions and sweeping observations about the subject of the biography. But this bio, like most others, doesn't offer that. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book and recommend it highly! Anyone who enjoys history and Paris would likely enjoy it even if they had never heard of Natalie Barney.
July 24, 2019
Suzanne Rodriquez presents a fascinating glimpse of the life of Natalie Clifford Barney in a detailed biography. Born in 1876, Natalie lived a life of opulent wealth, while maintaining a Bohemian life style until 1972. She was an artistic, provocative writer, and went against every social more she encountered. A bit clunky in style, and reading more like a textbook, Rodriquez manages to bring her character to live with vivid vignettes. This brilliant, athletic, talented, feminist adventured throughout her life encountering celebrities along the way.
Wild Heart teaches history throughout Natalie Barney’s life as it introduces an assortment of literary and artistic giants. Her writing legacy is most fitting for a Women’s Studies course, but her biography gives a connection for women today who as Oscar Wilde once said, “ Natalie put her talent into her work, but her genius into her life.” 4 cups of improprieTEA, with ample amounts of French pastries.
Wild Heart teaches history throughout Natalie Barney’s life as it introduces an assortment of literary and artistic giants. Her writing legacy is most fitting for a Women’s Studies course, but her biography gives a connection for women today who as Oscar Wilde once said, “ Natalie put her talent into her work, but her genius into her life.” 4 cups of improprieTEA, with ample amounts of French pastries.
April 9, 2019
Amazing amazing amazing
I felt transported back in time. The historical details were fascinating. This is a beautifully written book that really captured Natalie Barney and Paris at the turn of the century. The book flows easily and everything is conveyed in a manner that keeps one interested.
Beautiful beautiful attention to details of the time period.
So many characters but brought together in a very cohesive manner without sacrificing depth.
I felt transported back in time. The historical details were fascinating. This is a beautifully written book that really captured Natalie Barney and Paris at the turn of the century. The book flows easily and everything is conveyed in a manner that keeps one interested.
Beautiful beautiful attention to details of the time period.
So many characters but brought together in a very cohesive manner without sacrificing depth.
February 11, 2013
Compelling Biography about a little known, but highly influential woman in the literary world. The book read like a narrative, dynamic and seamless.
July 5, 2024
A fantastically researched biography on one of the most interesting women of her age. I think it’s silly to say that she was “born in the wrong era”. She leaned into her truth of who she was and created spaces for those who were like her, and that’s beautiful. I think she was born at exactly the right time and helped to lay an important foundation for generations to come.
Unfortunately the story was marred by some of her questionable morals but glad that the author spoke to them so that readers could get a true grasp of who she was and what she believed.
My favorite part was reading more about all the fascinating people she surrounded herself with. Alice from the L-Word would have had a field day with her chart. ☺️
Unfortunately the story was marred by some of her questionable morals but glad that the author spoke to them so that readers could get a true grasp of who she was and what she believed.
My favorite part was reading more about all the fascinating people she surrounded herself with. Alice from the L-Word would have had a field day with her chart. ☺️
August 5, 2022
I really wanted to learn more about Natalie Clifford Barney when I first heard about her. Reviews of this biography made it seem like this would read like a story, but it that wasn't my experience. I guess I just don't like this style of biography. It got pretty tedious to read like 100 pages about Natalie's childhood--just so many detailed passages about where she traveled each summer, the kinds of toys she played with, blah blah. Honestly, too much detail about the most mundane things that I didn't really care about. If I wanted a very detailed, chronological account of Natalie's life, this book would be a great choice. Just wasn't what I was looking for.
July 14, 2025
If you're interested in the Belle Epoque and literary Paris during the 1920's and 1930's, this biography Natalie Clifford Barney is a great foray into that time period. I had heard of Natalie Clifford Barney before but did not know much beyond that she was a lesbian poet/writer who ran literary salons in Paris. She was a fascinating (and messy) lady. It was refreshing to read about a woman so unabashedly proud of her queerness, especially in the 19th century.
Suzanne Rodriguez, while obviously admiring Barney, also unflinchingly examines her faults and shortcomings; like her unfaithfulness, hypocrisy, and anti-Semitism.
Suzanne Rodriguez, while obviously admiring Barney, also unflinchingly examines her faults and shortcomings; like her unfaithfulness, hypocrisy, and anti-Semitism.
March 9, 2022
A fascinating account of not only Barney's life, but of every artist who animated Paris during the Belle Epoque and the Roaring Twenties. However, the author is at times coy when exposing Barney's faults, maybe because she's just too enamored with her subject matter. Simply put, it's a very charitable portrayal - maybe too much. I'd still recommend it for the sheer quantity of fascinating material on the Parisian demi monde and salons.
April 19, 2025
Really enjoyed sinking into this biography. I particularly appreciated how it tackled the uncomfortable parts of Natalie's life head on, such as the contradictory nature of her antisemitism and attitudes during the Second World War, something which I found lacking when I read No Modernism Without Lesbians by Diana Souhami.
September 3, 2018
At first the book starts slow, demonstrating the childhood of Natalie Clifford Barney. However, the book accelerates and becomes more exciting as she comes of age. By the end, I was utterly enamored with Miss Barney.
January 3, 2024
At first the book starts slow, demonstrating the childhood of Natalie Clifford Barney. However, the book accelerates and becomes more exciting as she comes of age. By the end, I was utterly enamored with Miss Barney.
June 25, 2017
You can read my review here on https://ohiowomenshistory.com/2017/06...
July 8, 2022
renée vivien you will always be famous
July 30, 2025
3.5 estrellas
August 1, 2010
A very interesting account about a very interesting lady.
Natalie Clifford Barney, born in Dayton, Ohio in 1876 in a wealthy family was, from the start, a free spirit. She lived her life defying society's conventions. She lived openly, never hiding or giving excuses for being a lesbian or feminist or for her dreams as a writer. She refused to marry and instead moved to Paris in the early 1900s where she would live for the rest of her life.
I can't recall where I first came across Barney's name, but the more I read about her, the more fascinated I became. I was thrilled that there was a full length bio out there. This seemed to be a very good one, thankfully, seeing as how it seems to be the only one.
It was definitely a tome, which was fine by me. Rodriguez hit on just about everything. Everything from the smallest detail to mentioning a person Barney only met once or twice. We were given long accounts of the women who played important roles in her life such as Pauline Tarn, Liane de Pougy and Romaine Brookes. Deriving from personal papers and the memories of people who knew Natalie, Rodriguez paints a very vivid portrait of the woman most knew as 'The Amazon.'
Rodriguez also did not make excuses for Barney's faults. And she did have them. A few things I had a problem with was that Barney was a feminist, but a few times gave off a few misogynist quotes, which I found surprising, seeing as how she was a woman who loved women and was in the forefront of advancing women's talents. Another was her anti-semitic views. Which, as Rodriguez states, seems to come out of no where. Barney was herself 1/8 Jewish and had at times seemed to be proud of her Jewish ancestry, but somewhere around WWII she gave off some very nasty comments. No one seems to know what sparked Barney to say such things.
Barney was a patron of the arts, and didn't know much about politics and such. When Erza Pound went off on his rants before WWII, Barney sat next to him and agreed with him. She was the only one. Everyone else just thought he was nuts and he ended up going away for treason. I found it interesting how she just accepted whatever he said because it sounded good.
Back to the good stuff, Barney played a huge part in advancing the careers of both men and women writers and painters, especially those she was close with: lovers and close friends. At her famous salon (which lasted about 60 years), referred to simply as 'Fridays' she sometimes dedicated a Friday to one person's work. What I wouldn't give to go back and time to witness these 'Fridays' firsthand. The most famous names in the arts would visit Barney's salon and would discuss art, literature and so on. Plays would be put on, buffets would be set out, ideas would be exchanged.
I could go on, but this book covered so much. When I finished Wild Heart I came away with a deep appreciation for a woman who was definitely a rebel.
Wild Heart is a deep, fantastic book about a glittering world of time gone by.
Natalie Clifford Barney, born in Dayton, Ohio in 1876 in a wealthy family was, from the start, a free spirit. She lived her life defying society's conventions. She lived openly, never hiding or giving excuses for being a lesbian or feminist or for her dreams as a writer. She refused to marry and instead moved to Paris in the early 1900s where she would live for the rest of her life.
I can't recall where I first came across Barney's name, but the more I read about her, the more fascinated I became. I was thrilled that there was a full length bio out there. This seemed to be a very good one, thankfully, seeing as how it seems to be the only one.
It was definitely a tome, which was fine by me. Rodriguez hit on just about everything. Everything from the smallest detail to mentioning a person Barney only met once or twice. We were given long accounts of the women who played important roles in her life such as Pauline Tarn, Liane de Pougy and Romaine Brookes. Deriving from personal papers and the memories of people who knew Natalie, Rodriguez paints a very vivid portrait of the woman most knew as 'The Amazon.'
Rodriguez also did not make excuses for Barney's faults. And she did have them. A few things I had a problem with was that Barney was a feminist, but a few times gave off a few misogynist quotes, which I found surprising, seeing as how she was a woman who loved women and was in the forefront of advancing women's talents. Another was her anti-semitic views. Which, as Rodriguez states, seems to come out of no where. Barney was herself 1/8 Jewish and had at times seemed to be proud of her Jewish ancestry, but somewhere around WWII she gave off some very nasty comments. No one seems to know what sparked Barney to say such things.
Barney was a patron of the arts, and didn't know much about politics and such. When Erza Pound went off on his rants before WWII, Barney sat next to him and agreed with him. She was the only one. Everyone else just thought he was nuts and he ended up going away for treason. I found it interesting how she just accepted whatever he said because it sounded good.
Back to the good stuff, Barney played a huge part in advancing the careers of both men and women writers and painters, especially those she was close with: lovers and close friends. At her famous salon (which lasted about 60 years), referred to simply as 'Fridays' she sometimes dedicated a Friday to one person's work. What I wouldn't give to go back and time to witness these 'Fridays' firsthand. The most famous names in the arts would visit Barney's salon and would discuss art, literature and so on. Plays would be put on, buffets would be set out, ideas would be exchanged.
I could go on, but this book covered so much. When I finished Wild Heart I came away with a deep appreciation for a woman who was definitely a rebel.
Wild Heart is a deep, fantastic book about a glittering world of time gone by.
March 2, 2011
An incredible biography, about one of the most fascinating and least known historical figures of the 19th/20th Century.
Natalie Barney Clifford was an incredible Poet, Writer, Hostess , Lover, Patron, Feminist & out Lesbian.
Among many other things that it was considered ;
Extraordinary , impossible or even abhorrent for a women to be, in that particular period in history.
Her life story illustrates times and places
(1870's- 1960's) - (Ohio ,Washington, Paris, Florence)
That are often skipped over in history classes, because their culture and significance are considered too niche.
Natalie was a wealthy American heiress, worth hundreds of millions in today's figures,
yet her experiences are rendered relatable,
if not universal
by the skillful hand of author Suzanne Rodriguez.
her experiences of turmoil and happiness within her personal relationships.
Her unique disdain, for the concepts of marriage and monogamy,
( Though one of relationships spanned over 60 years). The joy and achievement she
experienced from her writing ( she had over 10 works published) ,
as well as her skillful hosting of her literary salon which became a hub of intellectual creativity
Natalie was a figure of elegance, but never stuffy,
a figure of bold daring, emancipated
but all at once concerned with decorum,
a walking contradiction at times, as all interesting human beings are.
She lived, loved and mingled with Greats such as;
Oscar Wilde , Ezra Pound, Renee Vivien,Romaine Brooks, T.S. Elliot , Hemmingway, Radclyffe Hall & Truman Capote
This is a story of a woman , who in her own words fit more into life than she thought was possible.
Paris Hilton take note.
Natalie Barney Clifford was an incredible Poet, Writer, Hostess , Lover, Patron, Feminist & out Lesbian.
Among many other things that it was considered ;
Extraordinary , impossible or even abhorrent for a women to be, in that particular period in history.
Her life story illustrates times and places
(1870's- 1960's) - (Ohio ,Washington, Paris, Florence)
That are often skipped over in history classes, because their culture and significance are considered too niche.
Natalie was a wealthy American heiress, worth hundreds of millions in today's figures,
yet her experiences are rendered relatable,
if not universal
by the skillful hand of author Suzanne Rodriguez.
her experiences of turmoil and happiness within her personal relationships.
Her unique disdain, for the concepts of marriage and monogamy,
( Though one of relationships spanned over 60 years). The joy and achievement she
experienced from her writing ( she had over 10 works published) ,
as well as her skillful hosting of her literary salon which became a hub of intellectual creativity
Natalie was a figure of elegance, but never stuffy,
a figure of bold daring, emancipated
but all at once concerned with decorum,
a walking contradiction at times, as all interesting human beings are.
She lived, loved and mingled with Greats such as;
Oscar Wilde , Ezra Pound, Renee Vivien,Romaine Brooks, T.S. Elliot , Hemmingway, Radclyffe Hall & Truman Capote
This is a story of a woman , who in her own words fit more into life than she thought was possible.
Paris Hilton take note.
June 14, 2013
I picked up this book randomly at the library when I was browsing the biography section and the title caught my eye. I hadn't heard of Natalie Clifford Barney before, though I have heard of (and know quite a bit about, in some cases) many of the writers and artists who were big and small parts of her life in Paris from the 1890s when she set up her weekly salon through her death in 1972.
Barney doesn't strike me as a likable person, even remotely, but she's definitely fascinating. She was ahead of her time in many ways, especially when it came to her romantic proclivities. She was a proud lesbian and had dozens of love affairs during her life. She almost never had one lover at a time, and several of her affairs lasted for decades. The longest, with the painter Romaine Brooks, lasted almost 60 years. She was known for her focus on romantic conquest - always wanting whomever she couldn't have, and losing interest once she had them.
There is little of her writing in this biography, but she published about a dozen books and is described as a mediocre writer who could have been great had she been willing to work a little harder. She wasn't one for editing, and most of her works were published relatively unchanged from their first drafts.
Most fascinating to me is her independent and social spirit. People were drawn to Barney throughout her life, and she was able to build numerous relationships and draw on them to help further her own career as well as those of other young writers and artists. She also was comfortable with doing whatever she liked, throughout her life, avoiding the sort of commitments that would limit her freedom, and rarely worrying what others thought of her.
Themes: biography, literature, France, early 20th century, women, love affairs
Barney doesn't strike me as a likable person, even remotely, but she's definitely fascinating. She was ahead of her time in many ways, especially when it came to her romantic proclivities. She was a proud lesbian and had dozens of love affairs during her life. She almost never had one lover at a time, and several of her affairs lasted for decades. The longest, with the painter Romaine Brooks, lasted almost 60 years. She was known for her focus on romantic conquest - always wanting whomever she couldn't have, and losing interest once she had them.
There is little of her writing in this biography, but she published about a dozen books and is described as a mediocre writer who could have been great had she been willing to work a little harder. She wasn't one for editing, and most of her works were published relatively unchanged from their first drafts.
Most fascinating to me is her independent and social spirit. People were drawn to Barney throughout her life, and she was able to build numerous relationships and draw on them to help further her own career as well as those of other young writers and artists. She also was comfortable with doing whatever she liked, throughout her life, avoiding the sort of commitments that would limit her freedom, and rarely worrying what others thought of her.
Themes: biography, literature, France, early 20th century, women, love affairs
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews