Toni Bentley
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300090390
- eISBN:
- 9780300127256
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300090390.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, Cultural History
This introductory chapter first describes the author's inspiration for writing this book, namely the image of French novelist Sidonie Gabrielle Colette's left breast, which symbolized something that ...
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This introductory chapter first describes the author's inspiration for writing this book, namely the image of French novelist Sidonie Gabrielle Colette's left breast, which symbolized something that the author wanted for herself, though she was not sure exactly what that was. Her search was furthered by a second vision that came a few years later, after watching a strip show at the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris. The discussion then turns to the four heroines of this book: Maud Allan, the Canadian modern dancer; Mata Hari, the Dutch spy; Ida Rubinstein, the Russian performance artist; and Colette.Less
This introductory chapter first describes the author's inspiration for writing this book, namely the image of French novelist Sidonie Gabrielle Colette's left breast, which symbolized something that the author wanted for herself, though she was not sure exactly what that was. Her search was furthered by a second vision that came a few years later, after watching a strip show at the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris. The discussion then turns to the four heroines of this book: Maud Allan, the Canadian modern dancer; Mata Hari, the Dutch spy; Ida Rubinstein, the Russian performance artist; and Colette.
