010 - Chapter 9

Cocher, drive to the rue Falguière—my attempt at restaurant French met with the cab driver’s puzzled look. But when I mentioned the old rue des Fourneaux, his face lit up. Ah, oui, oui, le Quartier Latin, he exclaimed. At the end of this winding road, through a narrow passage leading to a charming courtyard lined with studio buildings, I found a door marked with the name of the author—his visiting card neatly pinned. Inside, he worked in his shirt sleeves, the heat soaring to 90°. Surrounded by unfinished sketches and manuscripts, his creative space was new to me, as were his unconventional methods. Rather than opting for a sterile room, this writer immersed himself in the vibrant heartbeat of the Quarter, just a stones throw from the Luxembourg Gardens and the Panthéon. Among bustling cafés and public laundry, he gathered inspiration year after year. Sitting beside him, captivated by his process, I felt a profound appreciation for his immersive storytelling. If the following pages capture the authentic essence of this neighborhood, it’s thanks to the author’s deep connection to his surroundings. F. HOPKINSON SMITH. Paris, August 1901.