Without question, Gertrude Stein was one of the most influential writers of the past century. And thanks to the three guests on this episode—Francesa Wade (Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife) and Cecilia Konchar Farr & Janie Sisson (As I Was Saying: A Companion to Gertrude Stein’s The Making of Americans)—along with the forthcoming Dalkey Essentials edition of The Making of Americans, Stein is having a moment. To celebrate these three books, we discuss Stein’s literary reputation, why people are “afraid” to read The Making of Americans, the role that being a lesbian woman has played in her general reception, the influence she’s had since her passing, and Leo Katz’s long, illuminating conversations with Alice Toklas after Stein’s passing. A very upbeat, exciting podcast about a writer who was way ahead of her time.

This episode’s music is “Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano” by John Cage (who sites Stein as an influence), performed by Orlando Bass in Vienna at the Konzertsaal @ Das MuTh, during the Impulstanz festival. 02/08/2022.

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