Deborah Levy's "My Year in Paris" Audiobook Explores Gertrude Stein

Deborah Levy's audiobook, "My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein," presents a fictionalized narrative centered on an unnamed British author residing in Paris during late 2024. This author embarks on an essay project dedicated to understanding Gertrude Stein, the influential modernist writer and art collector. The narrative weaves in the author's personal life, including her preoccupations with a friend named Eva and Eva's lost cat, humorously referred to as "it" in lowercase, leading to a playful exploration of language and identity. The cat is later renamed "Bob" by another friend, Fanny, to facilitate easier conversation, highlighting the subjective nature of naming and understanding.

Gertrude Stein, originally from Pennsylvania, was a significant figure in the modernist literary and art scene. Her life and work intersected with prominent artists and writers of her era, including Pablo Picasso, who painted her portrait, and Ernest Hemingway. Stein was known for her experimental, stream-of-consciousness prose, predating James Joyce's "Ulysses." Despite her avant-garde style, Stein achieved commercial success later in her life, particularly with "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas," a biographical work about her partner, which is considered one of her more accessible books. The narrator of Levy's audiobook expresses a deep admiration for Stein's writing, yet also conveys a sense of exasperation, articulating a desire to "smack it in the chops" when encountering Stein's "baffling and beguiling writing." This sentiment reflects a complex relationship with Stein's work, acknowledging her desire for readers to connect with her writing while simultaneously maintaining a certain elusiveness.

The audiobook review positions Levy's work as an "inventive, perfectly paced portrait" that delves into the "gripping vision of a fearless writer." The fictional author's journey through Stein's life and literary output serves as a lens through which to examine Stein's own friendships and creative process. The review suggests that the narrative is structured to explore Stein through the author's own experiences and connections, creating a layered exploration of influence and artistic legacy. The audiobook's focus on Stein's unique literary style and her impact on the literary landscape of the early 20th century is a central theme, inviting listeners to reconsider Stein's contributions and her enduring significance in the canon of modernist literature. The review emphasizes the audiobook's ability to capture the essence of Stein's fearless approach to writing and her complex relationship with her audience, offering a compelling auditory experience for those interested in literary biography and modernist studies.