Alice B. Toklas

Alice Babette Toklas (April 30, 1877 – March 7, 1967) was the life partner of American writer Gertrude Stein. Later in her life, she wrote cookbooks and her memoirs.

Toklas was born in San Francisco. Her parents were rich. She went to private schools and The University of Washington in Seattle. After the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, she met the brother and sister-in-law of Gertrude Stein. They told her about life in Paris, and she was very interested in that.

In September 1907, Toklas went to Paris and soon met Gertrude Stein. They became friends and lovers. They lived together in Paris and southern France until Stein died in 1946. Toklas managed their household. She took care of the details of everyday life. This let Stein work on her writing. In Paris they were able to hold weekly gatherings where Stein's art collection would be shown. Many important artists and writers came to these, such as Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway.

In 1933 Stein wrote her own life story, but she called it The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. The book was very popular, and Toklas became famous. From October 1934 to May 1935, she went to America with Stein. Stein gave lectures about writing and was very popular.

After Stein died, Toklas wrote her cookbook. It included little stories about Stein and their adventures in France. And she wrote her memoir of life with Stein. She died in 1967. She is buried next to Stein in the Pére-Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Books
The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook (1954)
Aromas and Flavors of Past and Present (1958)
What Is Remembered (1963)

References

Category:1877 births
Category:1967 deaths
Category:Writers from San Francisco
Category:Lesbians
Category:Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery