Movers and Shakers

by Mabel Dodge Luhan

This is book number 3 in a 4 book series of her memoirs. The first is her childhood in Buffalo Intimate Memories Background. Second is her salon in Italy at her Villa European experiences, third is this one Movers and Shakers about Bohemia Greenwich Village in the years just before WWI and the fourth is about her life in Taos Edge of Taos An Escape to Reality which is the only other one I have read and is also superb. Dodge is one of the rare who is truly unique and with her interesting, creative and unique mind, she covers much of what is mundane in life but with an original bent and grace which makes it a pleasure to read. I loved every word and every moment reading it.

542 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1985

About the author

Mabel Evans Dodge Sterne Luhan was an American patron of the arts, who was particularly associated with the Taos art colony.

Reviews

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third volume of Mabel Dodge's autobiography, and covers her life, salons, and engagement with radical art and politics in New York City.

If you're interested in the turn of the century New York City art or the radical scene, this book is for you. If not, the book is still pretty good; Dodge is a good writer, knows how to tell a story, and she knew everyone 'Important' in the city, artist, writer, radical, dancer, whatever. That said, she also fills the book with tons of clippings from newspapers, letters, poems, etc., which are interesting, but which drags down on Dodge's interesting life story.

Really, the casual reader can pick up her edited biography. This is for completests and those who are doing research. But if you're interested in the time period at all, or interested in the life of someone deep in an artistic and radical scene, pick up the edited book.