Gertrude Stein is a name that inspires equal amounts of both awe and fear in prospective readers. An absolute icon in her time, she was an unparalleled tastemaker: collecting work from Picasso and Matisse when they were unknown local painters; mentoring Hemingway and Fitzgerald as bright-eyed, unpublished hopefuls; and hosting ‘talk of the town’ salons at her Parisian abode. However, when it comes to her writing, things have always been a bit more complicated.

To help me unpack the life, legacy, and ‘afterlife’ of this fascinating figure, today I have the pleasure of speaking with biographer, author and journalist Francesca Wade. Her new book, Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife, is set to hit shelves in the upcoming month. It was a great chat, and I hope you enjoy it.