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Americans in Paris
Chapters on Gertrude Stein, E.E. Cummings, May Ray, Ernest Hemingway, Virgil Thomson and Henry Miller. Illustrated. 302 pages. cloth, dust jacket.. 8vo..
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 15, 2018
Great book on special topics related to the time periods between the wars in Paris. Specific topics such as the many literary and artistic magazines, Virgil Thomson's translation of Gertrude Stein's writings to music, Henry Miller's time in Paris. Great to read along with other, more comprehensive books on the topic of writers and artists in Paris during these periods as it provides some unusual perspectives not found in other similar books. Very readable and enjoyable.
November 23, 2020
I’m completely enthralled with Americans who lived, loved and mastered their art in Paris in the 20th century between the two great wars. Wickes centers his book primarily on only 6 of them. Gertrude Stein who along with her brothers championed artists, composers and writers, all starving artists at the time. Also E. E. Cummings, the poet known for “The Enormous Room,” Artist Man Ray, Writer Ernest Hemingway, Composer Virgil Thomson, and writer Henry Miller.
What I love about this book is how fresh the research, interviews and information was at the time it was written. The book was published in 1969. Some of his subjects were alive and well for interviews and for proofing the drafts of the book for correctness.
This is yet another in a long line of books I’ve completed about this motley crew of American artists in Paris from 1900 to 1940. Much can be said about them. Wickes takes an excellent academic approach in describing and explaining their genius while not painting any rose colored picture of their difficult personalities, and aptitude for creating chaos and conflict while scorning all manner of fundamentalism.
All the while the common denominator for all of these Americans, and hundreds of others like them who came before, was Paris. Paris was the perfect, seemingly magical, setting for them to hone their crafts. The perfect conducive environment for living and studying and learning. It allowed them to be exactly who they were which meant they could simply compose or write or paint without the burdens of employment and other contemporary trappings of life in America.
And lucky for us this beautiful city of lights indeed entranced them so that they brought all of us such incredible literature, music and art. So many masterpieces that simply would never exist if it hadn’t been for Paris.
“Above all Paris was a city of writers and artists. Bookshops, art galleries. The very streets told of a creative past and present. One needs no artificial stimulation in Paris to create..” Henry Miller
“It’s a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway
As Perlès says in his biography, Paris never wears off.”
What I love about this book is how fresh the research, interviews and information was at the time it was written. The book was published in 1969. Some of his subjects were alive and well for interviews and for proofing the drafts of the book for correctness.
This is yet another in a long line of books I’ve completed about this motley crew of American artists in Paris from 1900 to 1940. Much can be said about them. Wickes takes an excellent academic approach in describing and explaining their genius while not painting any rose colored picture of their difficult personalities, and aptitude for creating chaos and conflict while scorning all manner of fundamentalism.
All the while the common denominator for all of these Americans, and hundreds of others like them who came before, was Paris. Paris was the perfect, seemingly magical, setting for them to hone their crafts. The perfect conducive environment for living and studying and learning. It allowed them to be exactly who they were which meant they could simply compose or write or paint without the burdens of employment and other contemporary trappings of life in America.
And lucky for us this beautiful city of lights indeed entranced them so that they brought all of us such incredible literature, music and art. So many masterpieces that simply would never exist if it hadn’t been for Paris.
“Above all Paris was a city of writers and artists. Bookshops, art galleries. The very streets told of a creative past and present. One needs no artificial stimulation in Paris to create..” Henry Miller
“It’s a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway
As Perlès says in his biography, Paris never wears off.”
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews