Suzanne Rodriguez

This well written, well constructed and well researched biography of Natalie Clifford Barney was one of the more satisfying works in this genre that I have read in recent years. Ms. Barney, who is now unfortunately forgotten for the most part, was one of the more colorful, influential and interesting characters this country produced during the late 1800s until the time of her death in 1972. While some of her personal literary works might be called into question, although I must say, she was show more not half bad, the impact she had upon literary Paris during a crucial four or five decades cannot be ignored.

One of my primary literary interests centers upon the group of men and women known, per Gertrude Stein, as the “Lost Generation.” To understand this group of writers, to understand the influences that guided their pens, it is imperative, in my opinion, to know of what occurred before their arrival on the scene. There is no doubt what so ever that that Natalie Barney was a major player in this epic, and therefore a major influence on what, again, in my opinion, was the Golden Age of the American novel.

Secondly, I have a fascination for odd historical characters, those that chose to follow a different drummer so to speak, and have added so much to our culture, even if we are not aware of it. As an example, I have spent years reading and collecting biographies of Sir. Richard Burton, the famed English explorer, linguist and professional rebel and reading his works. These characters attract and fascinate me. Miss Barney fits this category in spades.

Natalie Barney realized and became aware of the fact at a very early age that she was sexually attracted to women and not men. Her first major seduction was that of Eva Palmer, when she was seventeen and shortly after that she went to Paris where the popular and leading courtesan Liane de Pougy quickly became her next major conquest and her long time lover (among many, many others, many quite famous and well known). Throughout her life, Barney had literally hundreds of lovers; some were long time affairs, some short of duration lasting no more than one evening. The fact that she was a lesbian is important on at least two fronts. She seemed to have a hypnotic effect on women (and men to, for that matter), although being filthy rich, extremely good looking, and mentally brilliant, certainly did not hurt. First, she not only “came out” in an era where this type of behavior simply was not acceptable, but in addition, she actually flaunted it. Secondly, it is important because her lesbianism was a central aspect of her being. To understand her, we must understand this aspect of her life.

Miss Barney grew up in a very privileged family, i.e. she and her families were rich, very, very rich. This pretty much allowed her to do things and live a life style that was impossible for someone without almost unlimited wealth. This carried through until the day she died. She simply never had to worry about financial problems and in fact lead a life of extreme indulgence. It would be unjust of refer to her as a dilettante though. She did write, she did participate in the happenings of literary Paris during this period and did establish what can arguably be noted at the most influential literary salons in Paris during an age where these institutions were quite important to the art and literature of that time. This salon existed and was influential until the time of her death. She was also a very outspoken spokesperson for the woman’s right movement which was beginning to grow legs at that time and gained much momentum.

Now take note: This work is got, despite what some may say, a gossipy book filled with little stories about lesbian affairs. It is a very scholarly work (thank goodness) and the author treats the subject matter with wonderful sensitivity and good taste. I found there to be little sensationalism to this work, so if you are looking for that type of reading, you had best go elsewhere. The book is also simply packed with references to authors and the works of authors, French for the most part, as that is where Natalie spent almost her entire life, which few remember today. I must admit that French literature and the history of French literature represents almost a black hole in my education. I simply have ignored it for years. Through this book I have been able to add at least 40 books and a like number of authors I want to read and explore before I run of time. I will never get it all done, but hey, as long as I have my list….who knows?

It should also be noted that Natalie Barney was a very flawed individual. Politically she was extremely naïve and she had a cruel cold streak in her for which she was famous and notorious. She was extremely sexually promiscuous and seemed to be absolutely incapable of being monogamous, even into here late seventies. She was a terrible snob, gave her many servants absolute grief, and was extremely class conscious, to the point of absurdity, even by the standards of those days. She could be thoughtless toward those she loved and actually ruined the lives of quite a number of women.

All in all, once I started this work, I simply could not put it down. Natalie Barney is one of those forgotten characters that should not be forgotten. She was unique, did contribute much to our culture and we really should not forget people like this. This is an excellent, well written and informative read and should be added to your own “list.”

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks show less

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.

I'm not usually enthusiastic about reading biographies, but I thought this one was captivating, and it has motivated me to read more about some of the people in Natalie Barney's life.

This tome does more than illuminate the life of Natalie Barney; Rodriguez also must journey into the historical events which took place during her long life (1876-1972), the fascinating and famous people who surrounded her, and the culture of the upperclass.

As I read, I found that there were so many anecdotes show more I'd wanted to remember, that I started sticking mini post-it notes at various places. My copy of this biography is now laden with post-it notes. So, forgive me if I ramble.

Natalie Barney was born in Ohio into a wealthy family, and never, ever, had to go without. Anything. This wealth was the most important factor in her life. The second most important factor was that she was a lesbian, and was aware of it at an early age. This, along with her literary and artistic interests, drove her to Paris. Barney succeeded in living her life as she wished at a time when very few women did.

I must mention that Natalie Barney's mother was someone I'd already encountered in quite a different history book, one about the history of Africa. The explorer Morton Stanley, famed for finding Dr. Livingston, had been madly in love with a seventeen year old Alice Pike. By the time he returned from the Congo, Alice Pike was married to Albert Clifford Barney, and his heart was broken. This is but one of the interesting stories surrounding Barney's life, expertly told by Rodriguez.

Natalie Barney's literary salon was an important fixture in Paris for decades, and it was Natalie's charisma and talent that made it such a success. And yes, being a well-known, wealthy American was important. Barney's charm was indesputable, she found her way into others' hearts, and inspired several other writers.

Barney was a talented writer, herself, but a rather lazy one: she believed in spontaneity, which meant she didn't do re-writes. She once actually paid for Ezra Pound's advice, but--didn't take it! Other writers, such as a young Ernest Hemingway, had taken Pound's opinions and advice to heart, and had greatly benefited from it.

Barney was also famous for her epigrams, which demonstrated that she did have brains and talent. However, once again, these witty statements also demonstrate her constant glibness; Barney tended to skim the surface of an idea, without really thinking it through. Some of her epigrams would seem shocking, if read today, for their anti-Semitism. Unfortunately, anti-Semitic remarks were made very casually at the time, by people who were otherwise more thoughtful.

If we keep an open mind, too much is likely to fall into it.

(indeed)

Also, Barney was rather obsessed with her sexual conquests. She always had one major love in her life, but Barney was never faithful to anyone. However, Barney was also possessive, expecting fidelity from others. I would not call this charming. The tales of her loves are intriguing-- they include Liane De Pougy, a very famous Paris courtesan, Eva Palmer, Dolly Wilde (Oscar's niece), poet Pauline Tarn (or Renée Vivien,), Colette, Romaine Brooks, and a host of other very interesting women.

Barney also had close male friends, and had inspired writer Remy de Gourmont to write Letters to the Amazon, just one of the literary references that made Barney a celebrity.

Eventually, she would also be referenced by Gertrude Stein. The friendship between Barney and Stein was slow to come about, despite the fact that they were both American literary lesbians living in Paris, because they were so very different. For one thing, Stein and Alice Toklas had a committed, monogamous relationship that Barney viewed as being just like that dreaded institution of marriage that kept women locked up, while Stein and Toklas disapproved of Barney's womanizing. They did not exactly seek each other out, in the beginning.

Barney's salon, at 20, rue Jacob in Paris, got its start during the Belle Epoque of late nineteenth century France, and continued during the first world war and the depression. It was interrupted by the World War II, but resumed after the war.

Romaine Brooks owned a villa in Italy, and that is where she and Barney spent the second world war. It was a couped-up exile for two women who were accustomed to traveling whenever and wherever they wished, but again, Barney did not want for anything that was an absolute necessity.

I must interject a word about Barney's amazing housekeeper, Berthe Cleyrergue, who stayed behind in France to look after Barney's property and demonstrated remarkable patience and cleverness, most of which went unnoticed by her employer. Many celebrities, including Alice Toklas, raved about Cleyrergue's culinary talents, but the fact that she endured Barney's demands and complaints for so many years entitles her to some kind of sainthood. Having no idea what life in Paris was like during the war, Barney made impossible demands of Cleyrergue, and never realized how very extraordinary this woman's efforts were. At one point, the Nazis almost seized all of Barney's possessions because they'd heard that she was part Jewish, which was true. It was Cleyrergue who deftly talked them out of the house. (Romaine Brooks was an anti-social person who had a reputation for not liking many people, but she liked Berthe Cleyrergue.)

Personality flaws aside, Natalie Barney is famous not only for celebrating her love of women, but for encouraging and inspiring women writers. She made life rewarding and interesting for herself and others--in one way, or another!

This post has gotten way too long, so I will end it here, but I wholeheartedly recommend reading Susanne Rodriguez's book. show less

A delightfully entertaining biography on a woman who's guaranteed to make you feel financially, socially and sexually inadequate in comparison.