Lovely. When James Joyce (also in Paris) was asked if he would ever return to Ireland, he said that he never really left – I suppose he meant that, in spirit, he was still there.
It's fascinating how these personalities have represented such modern goals and dreams. Having founded an expat community, it's inspiring to see how a place can shape a person's life. These are stories that should not be forgotten by those about to embark on the challenging yet exciting expat life.
This piece has ticked so many boxes for me as someone with a soft spot for Paris in the interwar period and the many writers and artists that flocked there. Beyond the romanticisation, it's always interesting to see the contributions that these people made in their adopted cities/countries and how had they not been there, maybe events would have taken a different turn. It comes to mind how Sylvia Beach from Shakespeare & Co, was the original publisher of Ulysses by James Joyce (she also pushed him to complete it) and how she managed to smuggle it to the US. If Joyce hadn't lived in Paris, he wouldn't had met Beach and maybe Ulysses wouldn't have been written at all!
Absolutely, I think it's fascinating to discover the real life of these titans who walked the same streets of Paris that we walk on today. I read that about Ulysses too, that's a huge contribution she made.
I really enjoyed the book The Paris Wife, if you haven't read it. What struck me the most (giving me envy - again! hah) is how Hemingway worked as a freelance journalist for some US magazine and with one piece here and there, they could both afford to live in Paris and go on holidays for months to Switzerland and Spain, etc. 😃 Where do I sign up for that?!
I know, when I read A Moveable Feast I remember thinking "how does he pay for stuff and can afford to travel and raise a family?" The only thing he needed was an article once in a while 😂
This was a fantastic and well researched piece, Monica! Thank you for enlightening me to the forefathers of this global lifestyle. It's so important to know the history behind our lifestyles!
Lovely. When James Joyce (also in Paris) was asked if he would ever return to Ireland, he said that he never really left – I suppose he meant that, in spirit, he was still there.
Fascinating info. The cross-Atlantic expat-ting is something. I never put together how many ships ‘passed in the night.’ Loved this.
Thanks for reading, Jeanine! It's true, this has been done before, and it was interesting to find out more details about it.
Having lived most of my adult life abroad before returning to my homeland, this piece was extremely interesting to me. Thanks, Monica.
Glad to hear it, thanks Paul!
It's fascinating how these personalities have represented such modern goals and dreams. Having founded an expat community, it's inspiring to see how a place can shape a person's life. These are stories that should not be forgotten by those about to embark on the challenging yet exciting expat life.
Others have done it before us, even if in different circumstances. Good inspiration!
Talking about Nabokov, my accidental book club has recently agreed that Lolita is where they'd collectively draw the line of 'inappropriate romance'.
Oh yes, 100%! I know of it, but I refuse to read it even if it's a "classic".
we're due for a movie remake and, considering how the tradwife movement thing is going, I wouldn't be surprised if grooming was next.
This piece has ticked so many boxes for me as someone with a soft spot for Paris in the interwar period and the many writers and artists that flocked there. Beyond the romanticisation, it's always interesting to see the contributions that these people made in their adopted cities/countries and how had they not been there, maybe events would have taken a different turn. It comes to mind how Sylvia Beach from Shakespeare & Co, was the original publisher of Ulysses by James Joyce (she also pushed him to complete it) and how she managed to smuggle it to the US. If Joyce hadn't lived in Paris, he wouldn't had met Beach and maybe Ulysses wouldn't have been written at all!
Absolutely, I think it's fascinating to discover the real life of these titans who walked the same streets of Paris that we walk on today. I read that about Ulysses too, that's a huge contribution she made.
I really enjoyed the book The Paris Wife, if you haven't read it. What struck me the most (giving me envy - again! hah) is how Hemingway worked as a freelance journalist for some US magazine and with one piece here and there, they could both afford to live in Paris and go on holidays for months to Switzerland and Spain, etc. 😃 Where do I sign up for that?!
I know, when I read A Moveable Feast I remember thinking "how does he pay for stuff and can afford to travel and raise a family?" The only thing he needed was an article once in a while 😂
This was a fantastic and well researched piece, Monica! Thank you for enlightening me to the forefathers of this global lifestyle. It's so important to know the history behind our lifestyles!
Thanks, Kaila. I found it very interesting and the more I read, the more I connected the dots and it became more fascinating. 😊
Love this!
Thanks, Rachel!