Being Geniuses Together

Being Geniuses Together documents the literary scene of 1920s Paris through alternating chapters written by Kay Boyle and Robert McAlmon. The two authors recount their experiences as American expatriate writers during this transformative period in modern literature. The narrative moves between McAlmon's original 1938 memoir and Boyle's later additions from 1968, creating a dual perspective on key figures like James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein. Their accounts detail the cafes, salons, and creative circles that defined expatriate life in interwar Paris. The book captures both the creative ferment and personal struggles of writers trying to forge new forms of literary expression while living as outsiders in a foreign city. This unique collaborative memoir serves as a firsthand record of modernism's emergence and the complex relationships between artists seeking to redefine literature in the early 20th century.

Readers note this memoir provides an inside view of the 1920s Paris literary scene through both Kay Boyle's perspective and Robert McAlmon's original 1938 text. Many comment on the value of seeing two contrasting accounts of the same events and personalities. Readers appreciated: - First-hand accounts of interactions with Joyce, Hemingway, and other literary figures - Details about the practical struggles of expatriate writers - Boyle's more sympathetic portrayal balancing McAlmon's harsher views Common criticisms: - Disjointed narrative structure jumping between authors - McAlmon's bitter tone and focus on grievances - Lack of context for some events and relationships Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (47 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) "Offers unique dual perspectives on a fascinating period" - Goodreads reviewer "McAlmon comes across as petty but his observations are sharp" - Amazon reviewer

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Shakespeare and Company by Sylvia Beach The founder of Paris's Shakespeare and Company bookstore details her relationships with James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and other literary figures who frequented her shop in the interwar period.

Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein This unconventional memoir presents the Paris art and literary scene through the voice of Stein's partner, offering insights into the lives of Picasso, Matisse, and the modernist movement.

Lost Generation: The Story of the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch This group biography connects the lives of expatriate writers in Paris during the 1920s, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein.

Paris Was Yesterday by Janet Flanner These collected newspaper columns written between 1925 and 1939 document the cultural life of Paris through profiles of its artists, writers, and personalities.

✦ Kay Boyle wrote her portions of "Being Geniuses Together" nearly 30 years after Robert McAlmon's original memoir, adding her own perspective on the vibrant 1920s Paris literary scene ✦ The book uniquely alternates between two authors' viewpoints: McAlmon's original text from 1938 and Boyle's later additions, creating a dialogue across time about the Lost Generation ✦ While living in Paris, Kay Boyle worked as an editor for This Quarter and transition magazines, both influential modernist publications featured in the memoir ✦ The title comes from a sarcastic comment McAlmon once made about the pretentiousness of certain expatriate writers in Paris, though he himself was a significant patron of emerging modernist authors ✦ Boyle and McAlmon's accounts include intimate portraits of literary icons like James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein during their formative years in Paris's café society