Wild Girls: Paris, Sappho, and Art: The Lives and Loves of Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks

Fascinatingly detailed as a pair of character studies - it's hard to believe that both of these women really existed. They could easily be characters in a play or a novel. It's the descriptions of Natalie's letters towards the ends of her and Romaine's lives that really make it seem so beautiful and tragic. It's not often that a non-fiction book (and a thorough, well-researched non-fiction book at that) contains such a touching portrait of unconditional love. It is an excellent contrast to Natalie's life at the beginning of the book, where the life she led was so glamorous and exciting. Romaine's history and hers both seem really to have been lived as works of art.

I fell in love with the paintings of Romaine Brooks - although her demise into seclusion after WW2 and some madness made her less attractive than her lover Natalie Barney. Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks were pivotal figures in the bohemian world of Paris at the turn of the century. Their group of friends and lesbian lovers included Liane de Pougy - courtesan, the poet Renee Vivien, Dolly Wilde - niece of Oscar Wilde - who died of drugs overdose, Gertrude Stein, Colette and Edith Sitwell & many others.

Souhami weaves her own life story between the chapters of the biographies and I don't think it works that well. Also she could have delved deeper into some of the other figures mentioned in the book. It could have been better. There is show more however a good bibliography and other books recommended at the end worth following up. I have the book at 4/5 rating mainly for the details of Romaine Brooks paintings and the illustrations, photographs etc. show less

I've just started reading this book and it is excellent. It's about the lives and relationships of two iconic lesbians in Paris in the first half of the twentieth century. A fascinating read on every level. Great style, good story telling and engagement with the characters. The notes are copious and informative too. My only sadness is that so far there have been no pictures and I have to google those mentioned instead as I like to know what they look like.

Generally well told story of two very interesting women, taking in a variety of other intriguing lives. However, far too many footnotes and the little vignettes from the authors life placed between chapters were distracting, irritating and completely unnecessary.

Biography (of sorts) of Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks, but it was more like a gossip column than a serious bio. Very poorly written, so only the innately interesting subject matter made it readable. I'd love to read more about them, but this was a terrible book.