But it was my first introduction to the famous hotel and to what it represented for so many young women overflowing with ambition yet often at a time when they were not permitted to express it, let alone act on it. It is a novel but a remarkably autobiographical one, where she renames herself Esther and renames the Barbizon, the Amazon. I’m thrilled that so many readers are enjoying the book: thank you! As to your question, my fascination with the Barbizon Hotel began when I read Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Bell Jar, which is entirely based on her time there in New York in June 1953. Can you tell us why this topic was important for you to write about?

(SB)īB: Thank you for taking the time to sit down and answer some questions for us! Your wonderful book The Barbizon has been popular with our readers since its release.

The stories are captivating, and the scope of Bren's narrative will blow you away. Among the well-known residents were Titanic survivor Molly Brown, writers Sylvia Plath and Joan Didion, actresses Grace Kelly and Liza Minnelli, and so many others. This incredibly well-researched history of a hotel and the fascinating inhabitants of its small rooms doubles as a story about how the roles of women have changed throughout the twentieth century…and how the Barbizon-built in 1927 as a safe haven for the 'modern woman' working in New York-was there to see it all. There are no spoilers ahead (since the events of The Barbizon all occurred in the past), but if you’d prefer to read the book first, you can pick up a copy of The Barbizon here.

This week in the Bluestocking Salon, we interviewed author Paulina Bren on her research strategies, how to teach while writing, and her newest venture! It certainly checks a lot of boxes on the Bluestocking list: centering around creative, aspirational women (including a few of America’s most recognizable female authors), it’s historical, immersive, thrillingly inspirational, and endlessly compelling. The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free has been a Bas Bleu bestseller since its release in 2021.

The barbizon by paulina bren