Gertrude Stein was born on February 3, 1874, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh), to wealthy German-Jewish immigrants. She was the youngest of five children. When Stein was three years old, her family moved to Vienna and then Paris before settling in Oakland, California in 1878.
Stein attended Radcliffe College (then the women's annex of Harvard University) from 1893 to 1897, where she studied psychology under William James. Her time with James greatly influenced her later experimental writing style. After Radcliffe, she enrolled at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine but left without obtaining a degree in 1901.
In 1903, Stein moved to Paris with her brother Leo. They began collecting Post-Impressionist and Cubist art, amassing an impressive collection that included works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Paul Cézanne. Their apartment at 27 rue de Fleurus became a famous salon, attracting artists and writers from around the world.
In 1907, Stein met Alice B. Toklas, who would become her lifelong companion and secretary. Their relationship was a central part of Stein's life and work, with Toklas providing both emotional support and practical assistance in managing Stein's affairs.
Stein's writing career began in earnest during her time in Paris. Her first published book, "Three Lives" (1909), showed early signs of her experimental style. However, it was "Tender Buttons" (1914), a series of prose poems, that fully revealed her avant-garde approach to language and meaning.
Stein's writing is characterized by its repetition, abstraction, and unconventional grammar and syntax. She often employed a technique she called "continuous present," which emphasized the immediacy of experience. Her work challenged traditional notions of narrative and linguistic structure, making her a pioneer of modernist literature.
During World War I, Stein and Toklas volunteered for the American Fund for French Wounded, driving supplies to French hospitals. This experience inspired Stein's novel "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas" (1933), which, despite its title, was actually Stein's own autobiography written from Toklas's perspective. This book became Stein's first commercial success and brought her international fame.
Stein coined the term "Lost Generation" to describe the group of expatriate American writers living in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s. She was a mentor and friend to many of these writers, including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Throughout her career, Stein wrote in various genres including novels, plays, poems, and literary portraits. Some of her notable works include "The Making of Americans" (1925), "Four Saints in Three Acts" (an opera libretto, 1934), and "Wars I Have Seen" (1945).
In addition to her writing, Stein was known for her aphorisms and witty remarks. Perhaps her most famous quote is "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose," which appeared in her poem "Sacred Emily" (1913) and variations of which she used in several other works.
During World War II, Stein and Toklas, both Jewish, remained in France despite the Nazi occupation. They survived the war thanks to the protection of influential Vichy government officials.
Stein died on July 27, 1946, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at the age of 72. Her last book, "Brewsie and Willie," was published just before her death.
Gertrude Stein's legacy is complex and far-reaching. While her writing was often considered difficult and inaccessible during her lifetime, her influence on modernist literature and art is undeniable. She challenged conventional ideas about language, meaning, and narrative structure, paving the way for later experimental writers.
Stein was also a significant figure in the development of modern art, both as a collector and as a writer who attempted to translate cubist and abstract principles into literature. Her salon in Paris was crucial in promoting avant-garde art and fostering connections between artists and writers.
Today, Stein is recognized not only for her contributions to literature and art but also as an important figure in LGBTQ+ history. Her open relationship with Alice B. Toklas and her explorations of gender and sexuality in works like "Q.E.D." (written in 1903 but published posthumously) have made her an icon in queer literary studies.
Gertrude Stein's innovative approach to language and her role as a cultural catalyst continue to fascinate scholars and influence writers, ensuring her place as one of the most intriguing and significant figures in 20th-century literature and art.
