Sister Brother: Gertrude and Leo Stein - Softcover

Wineapple, Brenda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0803217536 ISBN 13: 9780803217539

Publisher: Bison Books, 2008

Synopsis

Devoted, eccentric, and compelling, Gertrude and Leo Stein were constant companions, from childhood to adulthood, until, finally, they spoke no more. Americans, expatriates, and virtually orphans, they lived together for almost forty years, collaborating in one of the great artistic and literary adventures of the twentieth century. Sister Brother tells the story of that adventure and relationship. With a personality that drew people toward her—regardless of what they thought of her inventive, hermetic prose—Gertrude Stein dazzled and perplexed. Enigmatic, intelligent, and self-absorbed, Leo also dazzled but in his own way. One of the crucial figures in Gertrude’s early years, he was the original guiding spirit of the famed salon at 27 rue de Fleurus, which continued for almost two decades. From her early days as a medical student to her first days in Paris, Gertrude was passionately driven toward the career in which she distinguished herself, demanding appreciation as an exceptional writer who knew precisely what she intended. This book shows how Gertrude slowly struggled with what became a unique voice—and why her brother spurned it. With its wealth of new and rare material, its reconstruction of Leo’s famed art collection, and its array of characters—from Bernard Berenson to Pablo Picasso—this biography offers the first glimpse into the smoldering sibling relationship that helped form two of the twentieth century’s most unusual figures.

About this title

Review:

Central to avant-garde Paris in the early years of this century, Gertrude Stein grew into a cult figure, a proponent of modernist experimentation and a writer who inspired such authors as Ernest Hemingway and Sherwood Anderson. Less well known is her brother, Leo Stein, who amassed an incredible collection of early modern art and helped paved the way for his sister's modernist exploration. In this biography, Brenda Wineapple traces the story of the Steins' eventful life and their own relationship, which ended with a complete break.

Book Description:

A fascinating dual biography of two American expatriates tells the story of a powerful, poignant relationship rooted in love, longing, and smoldering rivalry.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bison Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0803217536
• ISBN 13: 9780803217539
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 536