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4.2 out of 5 stars
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new york sylvia plath grace kelly mademoiselle magazine guest editors joan didion young women simon and schuster paulina bren york city well written barbizon hotel netgalley and simon ali mcgraw mademoiselle guest katharine gibbs secretarial school molly brown women who stayed modeling agency
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Rob Barget
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Cast of Characters
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021
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Paulina Bren does an incredible job of weaving together the stories of the famous (Syliva Plath, Joan Didion, Grace Kelly and many others) as well as the not so famous, while also capturing a broad range of themes around women and work, race, sexuality and independence. The remarkable thing is that Bren is able to handle all this complexity and make it so much fun and engaging to read. Some print reviews have tried to point out that the cover line "the hotel that set women free" is misleading. That the women who stayed at the Barbizon were generally not so free after all. They still faced endless limits, hurdles, conventions that restriced their opportunities. Book cover notwithstanding, that is the central theme of Bren's book. She does a masterful job of appreciating/celebrating the real sense of at least relative liberation that the hotel offered, while never sugar coating the struggles of the women who stayed there. Bren brings the Barbizon back to life with all of its complications and contradictions. The stories are fascinating and clearly deeply researched. I loved it!
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Lynn T. Ziglar
5.0 out of 5 stars History well written of a unique place in my life
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2021
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Renewed memories of living at The Barbizon from Fall, 1955~June, 1956. My parents from a small town, N.C. knew it as a safe place for living in NYC for me. Had no idea about where I was to be housed. No clue of the Grace Kelly and other inhabitants. Coffee shop cooks and waiters loved to inform everyone where GK sat in the morning for breakfast. I was not 20 and education it was in short order!
The history of the times from 1927 until it became luxury condominiums was of particular interest having lived there. Well written. Loved the references to Mrs. Sibley at the desk and Oscar the doorman. Summer and met my future husband, so did not return as planned. So did not become a Perm as the older residents were termed, 😅
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ADeWitt
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, page-turning, and poignant read.
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2021
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With this book, Dr. Paulina Bren has crafted a masterpiece. "The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free," is not merely the history of a building and the fascinating characters who lived in its small rooms. It's also a stark reminder that society's expectations for, and demands of, women changed so dramatically throughout the twentieth century.

I'll get back to broader history in a moment. But first, if you're looking for a book that includes fascinating anecdotes about life for young and independent-minded women (and the men who pursued them) in the 1920s - 1960s, this book is filled with unique and interesting stories, interviews, and good old (well-documented) gossip. You'll also read much about the history of Mademoiselle magazine, which helped to heap mystique onto the Barbizon while filling many of its rooms with college-aged guest editors for several decades.

As a man, I was surprised to discover, thanks to this book, historical facts about women's rights that were never presented in history classes, but should be. For example, in the early twentieth century, women could not stay overnight at hotels unless they carried heavy luggage; the lack of luggage indicated, to authorities, that they "must be" prostitutes. And during the Great Depression, married women in 26 states were legally prohibited from holding paying jobs. When World War II broke out, and men were enlisted, women were expected to work. Then just a few short years later, in the 1950s, women were discouraged from applying for, or staying in, college or pursuing careers. Talk about whiplash –– something that men of the same century did not endure. It gave me lots to think about.

In short: an excellent, page-turning, and poignant read.
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Frank DonnellyTop Contributor: Poetry Books
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Well Written And Very Interesting Non Fiction Story of An Iconic Women's Hotel in N.Y.C.
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2021
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"The Barbizon" is a really interesting, well written non fiction story about a famous hotel for Women built in the early twentieth century. The story is about both the hotel itself and many of the famous guests who stayed there. It was also the hotel where "guest editors", young women stayed during their working at "Mademoiselle Magazine". Many of these women became famous authors and other cultural Iconic figures. I both learned a great deal and also enjoyed the book very much.

The book is written in modern conversational American English and is mostly easily comprehended. With that in mind, it makes, to me, a good candidate for an audiobook. I did purchase and listen and read both the Kindle and audiobook simultaneously. The audiobook was faithful to the text and was a professionally performed. At the same time, the Kindle has photographs that I was very glad to view. I am personally glad that I purchased and consumed both products.

My reading and study interests are somewhat eclectic. My personal interests include, but are not limited to, American History, Civil Rights, Feminist History, Female authors, The History of N.Y.C., etc... As such this fine book was a veritable gold mine of information provided in a very enjoyable manner. I was familiar with many of the ladies mentioned in this book. As is normal for me, I did parallel reading and study along the way. Everything I know and everything that I checked out was consistent with the information provided in this fine work of non fiction.

I have never been a professional educator. With that significant qualification in mind, this is yet another fine book which I feel could be used as a very enjoyable core text for an American Cultural History course. The course would be both highly illuminating and enjoyable.

In summary, I completely enjoyed this book. I am personally glad that I both read and listened to he book. Obviously this is a bit of a niche history work. It will not be of as much interest to every reader as it proved to be to me. But for a reader interested in this aspect of niche of American History, one may find this is a well written enjoyable Work. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.....
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dottie brunette
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2021
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The information presented is extremely interesting, but often becomes dense and choppy. The time lines are tangled and stories appear to be mashed together. Not a user friendly read, but interesting to the fan of historical building nonfiction.
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Top reviews from other countries

a yelland
1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor quality paper and print
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2021
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I’m sorry, but I didn’t get beyond opening the book. The print and paper quality was so poor (especially given the standard hardback price) that I could not bring myself to read the first page. Such a shame, as the content sounds fascinating.
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Rebecca Edney
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2021
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Fabulous book with fantastic cover! Really fast delivery and book in perfect condition.
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markr
5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining social history, with lots of stars of the 20th century
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2021
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
This book makes for a very interesting and enjoyable read. The Barbizon hotel on the Upper East side of New York was a women only hotel during much of the 20th century. Residents needed references to be allowed to stay there and for many years, before its redevelopment into luxury condos in the early 80s, there were far more applicants that the hotel could take.

In the 1920s to the 1960s in particular the hotel gave safe haven and a respectable place to stay to young women, often in new York to work in modelling, acting, studying secretarial skills or working for one of the many magazines located close by.

This book focuses on the stories of a range of women who were interns at Mademoiselle magazine, and who stayed at the Barbizon during their month in New York. In particular focus is the group of 20 young women who arrived as the class of 1953, which included the famous poet Sylvia Plath, who went onto marry Ted Hughes, and eventually, sadly, to commit suicide. The Bell Jar, a novel written by Sylvia Plath, was set in the Barbizon, renamed the Amazon for the story

In its focus on the group of 1953, with some comparison to the 1920’s flappers, it shows how society had in some ways gone backwards in the 1950’s - with far more hypocrisy about women's sexual freedoms brought into sharp relief. These were the days when middle class women were expected to give up their careers when they married, to abandon all they had learned at university, all their ambitions, and to focus on husband, home and children. As such the period of working in New York was a time of freedom for the women featured in this pages, and of personal choice. Many used that choice to search for a husband, others to pursue their ambitions.

The Barbizon’s guests included many people who went on to become extremely famous - Liza Minelli, Ali McGraw, Jaclyn Smith, and Grace Kelly all stayed there. Grace Kelly was described by Alfred Hitchcock as the most promiscuous women he had ever met, and certainly she was strongly rumoured to sneak men into her hotel room ( which was strictly forbidden) , and she went on to become globally famous as Princess Grace of Monaco.

All this makes for a really interesting read, which evokes the society of the 1950s beautifully, and which through numerous anecdotes and stories is an excellent work of social history as well as great entertainment
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The One With All the Books and Plants!
5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling read and one so well told by its author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2021
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
Having never heard of The Barbizon before reading this book, I was absolutely fascinated by Paulina’s account. More so, the fluid writing style and the engaging tone throughout this book clearly highlight a writer who has so much obvious passion for her research.
The Barbizon was the premise of a New York hotel designed and opened in 1927 to effectively play home to those women seeking a career in the arts.
I absolutely loved the concept of this and actually became jealous throughout reading that no such place exists now!
What’s more, as a former English Literature student, I devoured the Sylvia Plath and Joan Didion chapters equally, like I imagine many others will who still have a fondness for their work.
The Barbizon is so well-written and will capture your imagination and attention from the very beginning. With the ability to take you right into the individual rooms of the wonderful ladies who stayed at the hotel, this is a real treat of a book.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling read and one so well told by its author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2021
Having never heard of The Barbizon before reading this book, I was absolutely fascinated by Paulina’s account. More so, the fluid writing style and the engaging tone throughout this book clearly highlight a writer who has so much obvious passion for her research.
The Barbizon was the premise of a New York hotel designed and opened in 1927 to effectively play home to those women seeking a career in the arts.
I absolutely loved the concept of this and actually became jealous throughout reading that no such place exists now!
What’s more, as a former English Literature student, I devoured the Sylvia Plath and Joan Didion chapters equally, like I imagine many others will who still have a fondness for their work.
The Barbizon is so well-written and will capture your imagination and attention from the very beginning. With the ability to take you right into the individual rooms of the wonderful ladies who stayed at the hotel, this is a real treat of a book.
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Norman
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read I enjoyed every page
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2021
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
A very well researched and written account of the famous New York Hotel the Barbizon , author Paulina Bren interviewed many women and men along the way who gave her unique information and stories . The Barbizon was built in 1927 as a safe place to stay for the modern women seeking a career in the arts , some became famous and some had their hopes and aspirations dashed along the way . This era from the 1920,s and up to 1981 is covered by some very fascinating and interesting stories , women such as Candice Bergen , Liza Minnelli , Grace Kelly ( rumoured to have smuggled the odd man in ) ! and Mona Simpson all stayed there at one time . All stayed in a tiny single bedded , pink decorated bedroom which was one of 688 in the hotel . I found it difficult to put down this book once I had started , every page kept me wanting to know more . I recommend this book to anyone and read it in two sittings . Well worth my 5 STAR review .
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