Paris 1920: Lost Generation Writers of the Left Bank (Small Group Walking Tour)

There is a famous saying : “Everyone has 2 countries, their own & France”. This was especially true for numerous artists, writers & jazz musicians between the 2 world wars, many of whom flocked to Paris not only for artistic inspiration but also to find themselves. Known as the Lost Generation, these were men & women who had suffered through WW1, a war that had taken 20m lives. They were all between 20 and 30 years old & questioned the old regime as morally bankrupt – seeking to build a new system. Eager to share ideas they would gather in the numerous cafés of the Left Bank. Many of these struggling artists & writers stayed in the area’s cheap hotels or cold-water flats. We will visit the places they lived, worked & partied, bearing in mind that the bohemian Left Bank of starving artists & struggling writers has given way to chic boutiques & high end bistros. Drinks not included in the price. School groups are welcome on this tour - contact us for rates.

1. 1

   Place de la Contrescarpe

   30 min

   We start off in a pleasant café with a short introduction to the Lost Generation authors and their involvement in WW1. Guests are requested to enjoy a cup of coffee while we begin the tour.

2. 2

   Rue Mouffetard

   10 min

   We visit the first flat where Ernest Hemingway lived & learn about his early years. We also visit the place where James Joyce finished his masterpiece Ulysses, in the face of much opposition.

3. 3

   Odeon

   15 min

   We visit the original location of the famed bookstore Shakespeare & Company, a 2nd home to so many of the Lost Generation writers - Hemingway, Pound, Stein & most especially Joyce.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   30 min

   We visit the homes of the Lost Generation authors around the Luxembourg gardens : Man Ray, William Faulkner, Hemingway (again)

5. 5

   Montparnasse Quartier

   30 min

   We end the tour in one of the famed Montparnasse cafés, where all the Lost Generation writers came to party back in the 1920s. Guests are invited to enjoy a drink while we discuss the Fitzgeralds & their tragic end; Ezra Pound, with his outstanding talent & his despicable political views; then the controversial Gertrude Stein.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Please note that I have been vaccinated (5x)

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.