Charlotte Malterre Barthes

This was enraging. The idea the La Corbousier defaced her house with his murals; didn't correct people who assumed that he designed the house and got away with it because he was a man and the actual designer was a woman, whose achievements were attributed to the men in her life, despite the fact that she was a gifted multi-faceted woman with many strings to her bow. She was bisexual and enjoyed many relationships over the years.

What happened to her was pretty typical that happened to many women over the years, thankfully now she is better known, pity it wasn't during her life. This is an interesting glimpse into her life using a graphic novel as a medium.… (altro)

I picked up this book in the library, and I thought that a graphic text is an excellent medium for learning about the work of an architect because I could see a building that might be hard for me to picture without knowing the vocabulary. The story is a bit confusing because it jumps around and I don't know who the people are, but in the end, I like the impressionistic approach. The end of the book brings clarity, and since it is a quick read, there is time for a second or third read, which to me, is the whole point of graphic literature.… (altro)

This is the sort of biography I find very frustrating. The author seems to assume that I already know about Eileen Gray, so the story just jumps around randomly to a bunch of different moments from her life, giving me a pile of vignettes that do not really add much to my knowledge of the subject. Real historical figures wander the page but aren't properly introduced until a cast list in the end matter, like I'm going to go back and read it again.

Eileen Gray seems like she may have been an interesting person; I only wish I got to know her here.… (altro)

Leaves you wanting more
Review of the hardcover graphic novel (2019)

This was a good introduction to designer/architect Eileen Gray (1878-1976) which centres around her design of the building code-named E-1027 which is situated on the French Riviera.

Several characters from the 1920's/1930's Parisian arts & letters scene are provided cameos so fans will recognize Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Djuna Barnes et al in some party scenes.

Overall the story covered Eileen Gray's life in a light manner which left me wanting to know a lot more. It would have seemed more complete with further details about her customized furniture designs and building & room layout of E-1027 which I mostly had to look up via Wikipedia and other online sources. Caroline Constant's "Eileen Gray" seems to be the top choice for further information in print.

Eileen Gray: A House Under the Sun was part of Parisian bookshop Shakespeare and Company's 2019 Year of Reading subscription series.… (altro)