BOOKS
The Writings of Natalie Clifford Barney
Quelques
Portraits-Sonnets de Femmes (Paris: Ollendorf, 1900)
Natalie's first book, consisting mostly of French love poems written to a
variety of current and former lovers (as well as to women she simply admired
such as Sarah Bernhardt). The frontispiece reproduces a Carolus-Duran painting
of Natalie at 12, dressed as a page. The other illustrations are watercolors
by her mother, Alice Pike Barney. This book is extremely rare. Original Editions:
Yale University, New York Public Library, Brown University, Harvard University
(Villa I Tatti)
Cing
Petits Dialogues Grecs (Paris: La Plume, 1901); published under the
pseudonym "Tryphé"
Dedicated to her new and influential friend, the writer Pierre Loüys,
Cinq Petits Dialogues Grecs reflects Natalie's then-interest in all things
Greek. The book combines poetry with philosophical diologues. The latter provide
the first published examples of Natalie's innovative theories about love and
infidelity. Original Editions: Library of Congress, Bancroft Library (UC at
Berkeley), Stanford University, Yale University, New York Public Library,
University of Wisconsin at Madison, Vanderbilt University
Actes et entr'actes (Paris: Sansot, 1910)
This book is a collection of formal verse plays and poems written by Natalie
over a period of years. All are strongly feminist, showing women triumphing
over adversity. A few of the playlets were presented in Natalie's garden when
she lived in Neuilly shortly after the turn of the 20th Century. Roles were
acted by friends like Colette and Eva Palmer. Original Editions: UCLA, New
York Public Library, Yale University, Princeton University, Harvard University,
University of Virginia
Je me souviens (Paris: Sansot, 1910)
Although the jacket calls it a novel, Je Me Souviens is really a mixture of
dreamlike prose and poetry addressed by Natalie to the poet Renée Vivien
(she presented her with the work in 1904 at the Wagner Festival in Beyreuth).
The writing is reflective and tender, and some critics have called it Natalie's
best poetry. Original Editions: Special Collections at UCLA, SUNY Buffalo,
Yale University
Èparpillements (Paris: Sansot,
1910)
The first of Natalie's three acclaimed collections of pensées--cleverly-expressed
thoughts about life, love, art and human foibles. An example: "How frightened
they must be of losing their youth who gain nothing with age." This thin
little volume packs a poweful punch. Original Editions: Library of Congress,
Yale University, New York Public Library, University of Wisconsin at Madison,
Harvard University (Villa I Tatti)
Poems & Poémes: Autres Alliances
(Paris: Emile Paul, New York: Doran, 1920)
What a clever idea: a French-English collection of verse, published simultaneously
in Paris and New York! Most of the poems and poetic fragments had been written
over the decade leading to its publication and then gathered in these pages.
It's an unusually pretty book, covered by hand-cut, soft-gray paper; a sheet
of delicate rice tissue separates the English and French verse. Original Editions:
SUNY Buffalo, Stanford University, Cornell University, Yale University, New
York Public Library, Harvard University
Pensées d'une Amazone (Paris:
Emile Paul, 1920)
Arguably the most interesting of Natalie's books, it's the second of three
collections of pensées. Whatever caution Natalie possessed, and it
wasn't much, she glibly tossed away to write this book. The Amazon takes on
everything and anything, from adversity between the sexes to war ("War,
this justification for human stupidity"). A discussion of injustice toward
women brings forth a rare bitterness and anger from the usually unruffled
Barney. To justify her position, she gleefully quotes everybody from Anna
Maria van Schurman (an early proponent of women's right to education) to Shakespeare,
who, in The Merchant of Venice, allows Portia to describe a suitor in these
words: "When he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and when he
is worst, he is little better than a beast." Original Editions: Cornell
University, UCLA, Yale University, New York Public Library, Rice University,
University of Iowa
Aventures de l'Esprit (Paris: Emile Paul,
1929)
Published in 1929, Aventures de l'Esprit is considered one of Natalie's most
accessible books. In this series of portraits of writers she has known, she
celebrates the joy of intellectual friendship and accomplishment. Among those
she writes about are Gertrude Stein, Djuna Barnes, Colette, Marcel Proust,
Rémy de Gourmont and Gabriele d'Annunzio. Original Editions: Library
of Congress, Special Collections at Stanford University, Cornell University,
Yale University, New York Public Library, Harvard University (Villa I Tatti)
The One Who is Legion, or A.D.'s After-Life
(London: Eric Partridge, Ltd., 1930)
Natalie's only published novel (and the only book she wrote in English) Legion will take you on an odd journey and into mysterious places. She herself thought it was a strange bit of work and at one point wondered how she'd come to write this tale of moral rebirth. The book contains two illustrations by Romaine Brooks. Originally published in a limited edition of 560, it is now available in paperback. Original Editions: Library of Congress, University of Oxford, Cornell University,Yale University, New York Public Library, National Library of Wales
Nouvelles Pensées de l'Amazone
(Paris: Mercure de France, 1939)
Third and last in the series of pensées in which Natalie distilled
her thoughts on a variety of subjects, and age had done little to mellow her
sharp outlook. In alluding to independence, she noted that "Liberty is
a personal matter, concerning our own evolution." It would be twenty-one
more years until another book by Natalie Barney was published. Original Editions:
Library of Congress, Stanford University Library, Harvard University, Cornell
University, Yale University, New York Public Library, University of Texas/Austin
Souvenirs Indiscrets (Paris: Flammarion,
1960)
In this stunning memoir of friends and lovers from her early years in Paris,
Natalie first introduces herself in an "Avertissement" written in
the third person. She then moves on to evocative recollections of Renée
Vivien, Rémy de Gourmont, the Duchesse de Clermont-Tonnerre, Lucie
Delarue-Mardrus & Dr. J. C. Mardrus, Oskar Milosz and Colette. In addition,
there is a small collection of pensées and an essay in which she celebrates
laziness. Original Editions: Library of Congress, Duke University, New York
University, Yale University, New York Public Library, University of Oxford
Traits
et Portraits (Paris: Mercure de France, 1963)
Natalie's last book, published when she was 87. Once again she introduces
herself, this time as "N," in the third person. She takes a fairly
merciless look at herself but doesn't neglect to notice her good points. Traits
is divided into three parts. Sections I and II consist of literary sketches,
some previously published, of Bernard Berenson, Gertrude Stein, Harold Acton,
Gabriele d'Annunzio, Rabindranath Tagore, Max Jacob, Edmond Jaloux, André
Gide and others. The third section contains five essays (one of which, the
feminist "Breasts," has been often reprinted). Original Editions:
Library of Congress, Cornell University, New York University, Yale University,
New York Public Library, University of Wisconsin at Madison
