Natalie Clifford Barney

Date of Birth: October 31, 1876

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: February 2, 1972

Biography

Natalie Clifford Barney was a prolific American playwright, poet, and novelist who became a central figure in Parisian literary circles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a wealthy family, she used her resources to create one of the most renowned literary salons in Paris, which attracted writers, artists, and intellectuals from around the world. Known for her open lesbian relationships and her advocacy for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ issues, Barney challenged societal norms and inspired many with her bold and unapologetic approach to life and love. Barney was educated privately and showed an early interest in literature, publishing her first book of poems, “Quelques Portraits-Sonnets de Femmes,” in 1900. Her literary salon, which she hosted at her home in Paris, was a hub for avant-garde writers and artists, including Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Gertrude Stein. Barney was also a fierce advocate for the works of female writers and was instrumental in promoting the careers of many women in literature. In addition to her literary contributions, Barney was known for her memoirs and autobiographies, which provide a vivid account of her life and the intellectual milieu of early 20th-century Paris. Her works often explored themes of love, freedom, and the complexities of human relationships, making her a significant figure in both literary and LGBTQ+ history.

5 Interesting Facts about Natalie Clifford Barney

1. Natalie Clifford Barney hosted one of the most famous literary salons in Paris for over 60 years.

2. She was openly lesbian at a time when it was socially taboo, and many of her works focused on same-sex love.

3. Barney was a major advocate for the promotion of female writers and contributed significantly to the feminist literary movement.

4. She had romantic relationships with several notable women, including poet Renée Vivien and painter Romaine Brooks.

5. Barney was fluent in both English and French and wrote extensively in both languages.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Natalie Clifford Barney

1. “My queerness is not a vice, is not deliberate, and harms no one.”

2. “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end.”

3. “Why grab possessions like thieves, or divide them like socialists, when you can ignore them like wise men?”

4. “The advantage of love at first sight is that it delays a second sight.”

5. “There are more truths in twenty-four hours of a man’s life than in all the philosophies.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Natalie Clifford Barney was born into a wealthy family, and while specific figures regarding her net worth are not readily available, her financial resources allowed her to maintain a prominent literary salon and support numerous literary endeavors throughout her life.