Paris 1920: Lost Generation Writers of the Left Bank (Small Group Walking Tour)
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
We visit the homes of the Lost Generation authors around the Luxembourg gardens : Man Ray, William Faulkner, Hemingway (again)
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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)
Reviews(35)
An excellent way to learn about the Lost Generation in Paris. Ellen knows the answers! An excellent way to see the places the authors and artists made history.
Thank you for your kind words ! It was my pleasure.
Ellen was a fantastic person to lead a tour of this generation of writers and artists. She answered follow up questions using her vast knowledge of the individuals that shaped a literature out of the ashes of World War I.
It was my pleasure !
I’m so glad I experienced this wonderful tour with Ellen. She was very knowledgeable about the 1920’s and the Lost Generation. Her ipad was loaded with photos from that period and of the famous authors. I highly recommended this tour
Thank you !
The guide was very knowledgeable and had a terrific understanding of this topic. Overall, this was a fascinating way to learn about the writers who frequented the area. I would have liked more stops- and to cover more territory, but the weather prevented us from a bit more exploring.
The tour was fantastic, one of the best tours I have taken! Ellen is very friendly and knowledgeable about the subject matter. She incorporated a well prepared multimedia presentation into the tour. I highly recommend this tour.
Many thanks for the kind words ! It was my pleasure.
Re the Losr Generation tour: Enjoyed the tour very much. Ellen is quite knowledgeable of the subject and provided a lot of context and background to fit the various writers and their places in the Parisian literary world at the time. Plenty of time was provided to help soak things in. We even ended with Cocktail Time at Le Select!
Thank you for your kind words ! It was my pleasure to be your host.
This was SO TERRIBLE I will try to get a refund. The guide had ZERO knowledge/expertise.. She struggled to read from slides that she apparently made recently. Every traveler knew the info she tried to convey. She also told us we would be responsible for her dog during the tour. After half an hour of horrible slides & half a block of walking, the dog popped on the sidewalk and we made out exit. Worst tour experience I have ever had. Very disappointed.
I struggled to engage with you from the very start. You refused to listen to my tour, you never even gave me a chance to speak.... everything I tried to convey you said "you already knew"..... You were rude & close-minded. Yet the other people on the tour enjoyed it immensely. I wonder who is to blame here ??? This tour is very highly rated by other travelers, so again, I wonder who is at fault ? Oh and the dog stuff - thank you for making it all up - none of that actually happened other than in your mind.
Paris 1920: Lost Generation Writers of the Left Bank was an unforgettable experience. Walking through the streets where Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, and others once lived and wrote felt like stepping directly into literary history. Ellen was passionate and knowledgeable, sharing fascinating stories and quotes that brought these iconic writers to life. One quote from Hemingway really stuck with me – that every life is worth writing about. It made me see the city, and even my own experiences, differently. I left the tour not only with a long list of books I want to read but also with a spark to start writing myself. If you love literature, history, or just want to feel connected to the creative spirit of Paris, this tour is a must.
What a lovely review you have written, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If nothing else, this tour is designed to make people want to read more, and I am so pleased that you were inspired. Many thanks !
Our guide was excellent -- very knowledgeable about the writers' lives and works as well as about the specific locations attached to them on the Left Bank. Highly recommend.
Thanks for the review !
I cannot say enough about Ellen's kindness, knowledge, and passion for her subject. We started in the back of a cafe, where we watched a video for background and overview. Then we covered quite a lot of territory on foot plus two Metro trips (one would have been a bus, but it was not running, and she changed pace in a second). We passed through and sat a while for more info in beautiful public gardens. We saw the homes (with plaques to identify) of many authors, and spent far more time than we paid for. We ended the tour at the foremost hangout of the 1920s crowd.
I am so pleased you enjoyed the tour !
