A Night at the Amazon’s

By: Francesco Rapazzini

Narrated by: Suzanne Stroh

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Settle in for the LGBTQ+ Midnight in Paris. From European master storyteller Francesco Rapazzini comes this raucous, upstairs/downstairs comedy of manners set in Left Bank Paris during the Jazz Age.

It's Halloween night, when the ghost of bygone poet Renée Vivien haunts the legendary premises at 20 Rue Jacob. Natalie Clifford Barney, the seductive American writer and saloniste, known to all as the Amazon, has invited the who's who of literary Paris 1926 to her 50th birthday party. Never mind that half the guest list is comprised of Natalie's current lovers and exes.

With the household staff in disarray, leaving backstairs operations hanging by a thread, the celebrity guests begin to arrive and vie for Natalie's attention.

It's a star-studded cast of sharp-tongued characters that includes princes, paupers, and denizens of the demimonde alongside well-known writers of the day like the prickly journalists Colette, Janet Flanner, and Elisabeth de Gramont; needy novelists Djuna Barnes, Gertrude Stein, and Rachilde; neurotic poet Lucie Delarue-Mardrus; and best-selling authors of popular nonfiction like Aurel and Paul Géraldy.

They spar with editors and publishers alongside famous painters Marie Laurencin and Romaine Brooks, who square off against critics and collectors. When the surrealist bête-noir René Crevel makes his entrance, sparks begin to fly in the salon.

Screeches come from the kitchen, there's a brawl going on upstairs, and somebody's locked themselves in the loo. When Romaine Brooks' sexy birthday present hurls Natalie into a midlife crisis, will it all end in tears in the garden on the steps of her famous Greek temple?

Those on Natalie Barney's guest list of geniuses know there's only one thing you can be sure of tonight: Hold on to your romantic partners and political convictions - or go down trying!

©2020 Francesco Rapazzini (P)2020 Suzanne Stroh

BRAVO!

Brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, which was beautifully narrated by Suzanne Stroh. Stroh’s depiction of each character had me longing for more. Her sultry voice, narrating in a beautiful, rhythmic cadence is what makes her an excellent choice as a narrator. I will look forward to listening to future work. Well done, all!

Better than Midnight in Paris: Amusing and informative

I loved the vocalization of sixteen plus characters celebrating Natalie Barney’s 50th birthday. Paris 1920s is a joy and this is better than Midnight in Paris. If you are looking for a great distraction from Covid while sheltering at home for the holidays this is your ticket to a great escape and you can multitask but a glass of champagne and kick back and chill is better