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Left Bank: Art, Passion, and the Rebirth of Paris, 1940-50
Left Bank: Art, Passion, and the Rebirth of Paris, 1940-50 | Agnaes Poirier
19 posts | 9 read | 23 to read
An incandescent group portrait of the midcentury artists and thinkers whose lives, loves, collaborations, and passions were forged against the wartime destruction and postwar rebirth of ParisIn this fascinating tour of a celebrated city during one of its most trying, significant, and ultimately triumphant eras, Agnes Poirier unspools the stories of the poets, writers, painters, and philosophers whose lives collided to extraordinary effect between 1940 and 1950. She gives us the human drama behind some of the most celebrated works of the 20th century, from Richard Wright's Native Son, Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, and James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room to Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Saul Bellow's Augie March, along with the origin stories of now legendary movements, from Existentialism to the Theatre of the Absurd, New Journalism, bebop, and French feminism.We follow Arthur Koestler and Norman Mailer as young men, peek inside Picasso's studio, and trail the twists of Camus's Sartre's, and Beauvoir's epic love stories. We witness the births and deaths of newspapers and literary journals and peer through keyholes to see the first kisses and last nights of many ill-advised bedfellows. At every turn, Poirier deftly hones in on the most compelling and colorful history, without undermining the crucial significance of the era. She brings to life the flawed, visionary Parisians who fell in love and out of it, who infuriated and inspired one another, all while reconfiguring the world's political, intellectual, and creative landscapes. With its balance of clear-eyed historical narrative and irresistible anecdotal charm, Left Bank transports readers to a Paris teeming with passion, drama, and life.
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review
dwhatson
Pickpick

It had me hooked. This is a wonderful piece of non-fiction that chronicles the development of the Paris Left-Bank intellectuals starting with the Nazi Occupation of Paris. After the war, the intellectuals and artists influenced the public and government through publications, demonstrations and debate. All this is played out on the world's political, artistic and intellectual stage. This is an accessible history of a fascinating time.

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Graywacke
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Mehso-so

Poirier‘s fact-dump on post-war Paris - 1945-1949 - is more like a biography on Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, but without getting too close. It‘s so fact dense, that it practically lacks a narrative. Unfortunately it‘s compromised on audio by a terrible effort that make no distinction of tone or subject changes. It becomes monotonous facts. They‘re deadening at their worst, but hit strides of fascination. My last audiobook for 2022.

rubyslippersreads At first I thought that was Wallis Simpson. 2y
batsy Oh dear! Sorry it didn't totally work for you. Do you think it might be better in print? 2y
Graywacke @rubyslippersreads huh, interesting 2y
Graywacke @batsy I kept asking myself that. I‘m certain it would be better, but not sure it would be all that great. It‘s good for info, but not great for really understanding any of these famous thinkers, artists and authors. 2y
41 likes5 comments
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Graywacke
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New audiobook - partially because Richard Wright is a subject, and partially because I found @batsy ‘s comment of interest on the book motivating. ☺️

batsy Oh, that's great—always happy to be a book-motivator 😁 Look forward to your thoughts. 2y
Graywacke @batsy 👍🙂 So far it‘s a lot of info oddly compressed. And the reader isn‘t very good. But I‘m involved, and I‘m finding the author‘s stories of how she tries to get a sense of the experiences really interesting. 2y
batsy @Graywacke Based on the description it does sound like the author has to cover a lot of ground! 2y
48 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Vansa
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Pickpick

Absolutely loved this thought provoking ,deeply evocative book. Can't recommend it enough. Full review here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4302473756

review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

For the most part I really liked this. It was interesting to read about how Parisian artists dealt with the onset of war and the aftermath of it, and it was written in such a way it made you feel as though you were there. The last few chapters ran out of steam though and I was overwhelmed with names and anecdotes. I learned some things and enjoyed reading it but I was also glad I was done by the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

youneverarrived Using this for something about the past/history #nonfiction2021 4y
TheNeverendingTBR Sorry, I keep meaning to say....I got the book you sent! 😃 Thanks a lot, it was very kind of you! 💫 4y
youneverarrived @TheNeverendingTBR no worries, I‘m glad you received it. Thanks for letting me know 🖤 4y
emilyhaldi I‘ve had this on my shelf forever but never inclined to pick it up! Nice review 👍🏻 4y
youneverarrived @emilyhaldi my other half chose this otherwise it would probably still be sitting there on my shelf too 🙈 a good read though! Thank you 😘 4y
55 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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youneverarrived
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The type of book that deserves to be read with a glass of wine 🍷

I had a sort out of my books the other day and I have a bookcase full of unread books 🙈 (I know you all can probably relate 😂) so I‘m making it my mission this year to read mostly from my own shelves. I asked my other half to pick one at random and this is the one he chose 👌

Cathythoughts Enjoy 🍷 & 📚👌🏻 4y
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts thanking you 😘 hope you‘re well! 4y
squirrelbrain Oh you‘ll love that - very Parisian! Can you drop me an email? My computer broke and I lost all of my email addresses.... 😠 I can let you know about the buddy read of Any Human Heart. If you email me your phone number too I can add you to the whatsapp group. 😘 4y
See All 8 Comments
Tanisha_A Lovely! 😍 4y
batsy This book sounds good! And perfect to pair with 🍷❣️ 4y
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain technology 🙄 thanks Helen I‘ll email you now 😘 4y
youneverarrived @batsy it‘s great so far! Had to be done 🍷🤍 4y
59 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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CarolynM
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Today's book haul. I'm feeling pleased but rather guilty.

Tamra No guilt! 5y
Cathythoughts Lose the guilt 😊 these look great 👍🏻 5y
TrishB Lovely 💕💕 5y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen Nice! 😍😍 5y
erzascarletbookgasm These look good! Shoo, guilt! 5y
batsy Oooh 😍 5y
LapReader Can‘t wait to hear about the bad mother‘s book club. 5y
67 likes7 comments
review
cachoo
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Pickpick

Absolutely loved this book and enjoyed devouring it. Felt like I came away with a real evocation of the period in time, the people involved and the city itself.

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Christinak
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#TBRshelfie #LiteraryLuck

Going to aim for some non-fiction this month. I‘ve been slowly enjoying In The Restaurant - the problem with that book is because of it I have added MANY more books to my TBR.

#31DaysOfNonfiction

vkois88 I'm trying to incorporate more NF as well 6y
49 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Twocougs
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Pickpick

A gem of a book. Makes me miss my much beloved Paris!

43 likes5 stack adds
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emilyhaldi
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Paris certainly was a #cityofdreams during the postwar rebirth, especially among the art community.
#septemberdanes

Cathythoughts ❤️ 6y
Cinfhen tellement vrai 6y
Cinfhen I used Google translate so I have no idea if what I typed makes any sense!??? 6y
See All 16 Comments
youneverarrived I really want to read this! 6y
saresmoore Want! 6y
saresmoore @Cinfhen So true. I think that‘s right! 6y
Cinfhen Woohoo!!! Nice @saresmoore 🙌🏻🧡 6y
Kalalalatja Of course I had to google what it means @Cinfhen and it wasn‘t till then I realized @saresmoore‘s comment was the translation 🤦‍♀️ 6y
emilyhaldi Don‘t worry @Kalalalatja I had to google that too 😉 6y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja Didn‘t you learn French in high school? I am not being bitchy here, just curious if it is not a standard course in Danmark. (edited) 6y
Kalalalatja @BarbaraBB nope, we learn English and German in primary school, and then we can choose either Spanish, French or German in high school. I chose German, but I remember very little of it 😅 6y
BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja Interesting! We learn English, French and German and can add Spanish. I forgot most of French and German as well ☺️ 6y
Reviewsbylola Goodreads win? 6y
emilyhaldi @BarbaraBB @Kalalalatja so jealous of your school focus on language!! We didn't start until we were older and only learned Spanish. I am awful at languages though so in highschool I switched to Latin😜 6y
Mdargusch I love that cover! ❤️ 6y
87 likes3 stack adds16 comments
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Eyejaybee
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Great review in The Economist of Agnes Poirier‘s marvellous ‘Left Bank‘. They found it as delightful as I did. https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21741126-inquiry-old-haunt-sartre-.... #leftbank #agnespoirier #simondebeauvoir #philosophy #jeanpaulsartre #existentialism

MJSanty Have you read At the Existentialist Cafe? It was extremely good and felt with many of the same individuals. 7y
Eyejaybee Yes, I loved it. In fact, it was because I enjoyed that so much that I bought ‘Left Bank‘. I also enjoyed Sarah Bakewell‘s biography of Montaigne, ‘How to Live‘. 7y
8 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Christinak
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I just got part two of my Christmas present from my mom. This awesome book box from #ShakespeareandCompany

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Eyejaybee
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Pickpick
9 likes1 stack add
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youneverarrived
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Spotted this in Waterstones the other day and I want it 😍 was so tempted to buy it #itsashame I‘m on a book buying ban (trying to get through books I own & use the library a lot more) #aprella

emilyhaldi Oh man, that IS a shame 👎🏻 I propose to ban all book buying bans 😆 also! You remind me that I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway a few months ago!!! Need to pick it up soon!! 7y
PagesOfKate Ooh, my dad would love this. Fathers day is coming up so I'll have to snap this up - and borrow it afterwards of course! Thanks for the great gift inspo post. 7y
Nute I understand your frustration. These type of books get my attention every time and I always want them. 7y
See All 11 Comments
youneverarrived @emilyhaldi 😂 it probably won‘t last very long knowing what I‘m like lol ohhh lucky!! 🧡 7y
youneverarrived @PagesOfKate it looks so interesting! You would definitely have to borrow it afterwards 😉 7y
youneverarrived @Nute I know! I shouldn‘t go in book shops when I‘m trying not to buy books but I can‘t help it 😂 7y
Mdargusch Nice restraint! 7y
Reviewsbylola I don‘t know whether to applaud you or urge you to just give in. 😂😂😂 7y
Leftcoastzen I have a ban ... not working bought 2 today ... my excuse, signed but still. 7y
batsy This sounds so good! And reminds me of one on my TBR still 7y
youneverarrived @batsy I really enjoyed that one really interesting! 7y
63 likes11 comments
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Eyejaybee
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Racing through this marvellous book almost too quickly. I am enjoying reading about the Left Bank renaissance but don‘t want to finish the book too soon. #agnespoirier #leftbank #philosophy #paris #1959s #existentialism #jeanpaulsartre #simonedebeauvoir #albertcamus #politics #book #books #bookstagram #currentlyreading #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #verocaffè #caffeine #coffeecompass #caffeneaddict #friernbarnet #blackcoffee

8 likes2 stack adds
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Eyejaybee
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Just a few pages in and I am already captivated by this book about the cultural, philosophical and literary rebirth in post-War Paris. Best coffee so far this week, too. #agnespoirier #leftbank #book #books #currentlyreading #bookstagram #coffeecompass #verocaffe #friernbarnet #coffee #caffeine #caffeineaddict #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #wakeupandsmellthecoffee #wakeupandsmellthecoffin #philosophy #politics #paris

aquariusnat The main reservation I have about reading this book is that I'm a little confused about why she chose the timeline of 1940-1950 since Paris was occupied by the Nazis in the early 1940s. I have a hard time believing a lot happened during that period . 7y
Eyejaybee I wondered about that point, too. I have only read the first couple of chapters so far, and there is a lot of interesting material there. 7y
12 likes1 stack add2 comments
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emilyhaldi
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Tonight we received what is probably the last package we will get delivered to our ny apt... and it's bookmail, go figure 🤷🏻‍♀️

Cinfhen How fitting!!! 7y
Hollie Looks like a good one, too! 7y
Mdargusch Of course. 7y
100 likes1 stack add4 comments