Art, Literature, Love, and Life on the Cote d'Azur Get swept up in the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera as author and filmmaker John Baxter takes readers on a whirlwind tour through the star-studded cultural history of the Cote d'Azur that’s sure to delight travellers, Francophiles, and culture lovers alike. Readers will discover the dramatic lives of the legendary artists, writers, actors, and politicians who frequented the world’s most luxurious resort during its golden age. In 25 vivid chapters, Baxter introduces the iconic figures indelibly linked to the South of France - artist Henri Matisse, who was inspired by the Riviera’s colour and light; writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose Riviera hosts inspired ‘Tender is the Night’; Coco Chanel, whose Saint-Tropez tan became an international fashion trend; and many more. Along the way, Baxter takes readers where few people ever get to go: the alluring world of the perfume industry, into the cars and casinos of Monte Carlo, behind-the-scenes at the Cannes Film Festival, to the villa where Picasso and Cocteau smoked opium, and to the hotel where Joseph Kennedy had an affair with Marlene Dietrich. These luminaries celebrated life and created art amid paradise, and this book is the ultimate guide to the Riviera’s golden age. AUTHOR: John Baxter is an Australian-born writer, journalist and filmmaker; he has called Paris home since 1989. He is the author of numerous books including the autobiographical Immoveable ‘Feast: A Paris Christmas’, ‘The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris’, ‘Chronicles of Old Paris: Exploring the Historic City of Light’, and ‘The Golden Moments of Paris: A Guide to the Paris of the 1920s’.
REVIEWS of ‘Chronicles of Old Paris’ and ‘The Gold Moments of Paris’:
This richly illustrated and beautifully formatted work - Library Journal This lovely, gorgeous and intelligent book examines the Paris of old and not so old, with its many fascinating figures and tales. -Chicago Tribune Excellent walking tours are accompanied by engaging anecdotes .. - France Magazine While this is a nonfiction book, it reads like fiction, whereby the reader journeys through Paris at different times in its history, through the stories of famous people and places. - ForeWord Review 100 + illustrations and photos