Josephine Baker's memoir, translated into English for the first time, chronicles her extraordinary life through conversations with Marcel Sauvage. Covering her early life in St. Louis, her adventures in Europe, and her rise to fame, the reflections showcase her personality and vibrant spirit. Despite the narrative challenges of a lifetime memoir, Baker's storytelling shines, filled with humor, wisdom, and vivid imagery. Her anecdotes, from performing in Berlin to sharing personal recipes, highlight her love of life and resilient character, making her narrative compelling and relatable.
Who else could ever have had a story like hers? writes Ijeoma Oluo in the foreword to Josephine Baker's memoir. The dancer, the singer, the ingenue, the scandal maker, the activist, the spy—Josephine Baker lived at least 10 lives in one.
Life, when you think about it later, says Baker, is a series of images—a film in your heart. And yet Baker's matchless character propels the reader. She exudes love and life on the page.
Her storytelling is writerly and precise, with satisfying arcs in a single sentence or a page. My childhood was the type where you have no stockings. I was cold and I danced to keep warm.
In my favourite chapter, she shares recipes and advice. Ladies, sleep naked under your sheets, dance, sweat, and don't be shy with makeup.
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