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Saxon Henry

@saxonhenry.bsky.social

52 followers 72 following 58 posts

Author and journalist who publishes indie books, a salon series on Substack, and other blogs as The Modern Salonnière.

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Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · 8d

The Horse, as Dylan Thomas called the White Horse Tavern, was the Welsh poet’s favorite watering hole when he visited #NYC during the 1950s. I trekked there to sit with a famous painting of the poet hanging near the bar. #dylanthomas #whitehorsetavern #nyc #salon

A Loneliness Beyond Comprehension

Brilliant performances interspersed with alcoholic meltdowns make one Welsh poet a nightmare for a devoted fan to manage. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · 29d

During one of my trips to Milan, I took two books to the #duomodimilano to read “Under the Storied Window,” as Percy Bysshe Shelley had 197 years before—almost to the day. To find out why, step into the salon… shorturl.at/W9ILS #percybyssheshelley #shelley #milan #milano

Under the Storied Window

One of history’s lauded poets suffered from rejection in his own country during his lifetime. How did Percy Bysshe Shelley cope? Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Sep 9

A handful of hatefuls let it rip on the moors of Devon, the perfect windswept setting for antagonism and angst. Welcome to the salon… #djunabarnes #devon #peggyguggenheim #nightwood #tseliot #ottolinemorrell #themodernsalonniere

A Stopover at Hangover Hall

A handful of hatefuls let it rip on the moors of Devon, the perfect windswept setting for antagonism and angst. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Sep 2

Meet a complicated writer whose overly-sensitive psyche was deemed “as complex and winding as a Daedalian labyrinth.” Welcome to the salon… #djunabarnes #paris #nyc #patchinplace #themodernsalonniere shorturl.at/9NBgO

Madame Vitriol’s Time Machine

Meet a complicated writer whose overly-sensitive psyche was deemed “as complex and winding as a Daedalian labyrinth.” Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Aug 26

Given his genius, I was surprised to learn how few of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings survived. There’s a reason why. Welcome to the salon… #leonardodavinci #milan #palazzoreale #themodernsalonniere

The Bias of Leonardo da Vinci

Given his genius, I was surprised to learn how few of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings survived. There’s a surprising reason why. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Aug 19

A portrait of one of the saddest young women I’ve ever seen sent me on a journey to find out why her expression was so strained: Consuelo Vanderbilt’s world comes to life. Welcome to the salon… #consuelovanderbilt #marblehouse #newport #rhodeisland #blenheimpalace #themodernsalonniere

Consuelo Vanderbilt as a Work-In-Progress

A portrait of one of the saddest young women I’ve ever seen sent me on a journey to find out why her expression was so strained. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Aug 12

A “lesser Romantic” becomes the glue for the bigger stars of the era as they flock to his salon in his humble London flats. He's a gentle soul whose story is not as well known as the others. I want to change that: Welcome to the salon… #London #charleslamb #innertemple

The Romantics in Regency England

A “lesser Romantic” becomes the glue for the bigger stars of the era as they flock to his salon in his humble London flats. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Aug 5

In this latest exploration on Substack, an educated woman in medieval France named Christine de Pizan talks truth to power…a lesson for us all. The ancient map of Paris illustrates her domain. Welcome to the salon… #christinedepizan #paris

Speaking Truth to Power

An educated woman in medieval France talks truth to power…a lesson for us all. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Aug 4

Thank you, @jolocktov.bsky.social - More was definitely in the thick of it!

Reposted by Saxon Henry

Jo Locktov @jolocktov.bsky.social · Aug 4

If you enjoyed Wolf Hall, you will love this essay by @saxonhenry.bsky.social

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 31

My latest salon exploration on #substack began in a beautiful park in London near Chelsea Old Church on Cheyne Walk. The acreage once belonged to Sir Thomas More, and Henry VIII walked with him there one evening. Welcome to the salon... #sirthomasmore #henryviii #london

Attempting to Command the Winds

Sir Thomas More declared if his head would win Henry VIII a castle in France, it would not fail to go off. No Château; head gone. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 31

My latest salon exploration on #substack began in a beautiful park in London near Chelsea Old Church on Cheyne Walk. The acreage once belonged to Sir Thomas More, and Henry VIII walked with him there one evening. Welcome to the salon... #sirthomasmore #henryviii #london

Attempting to Command the Winds

Sir Thomas More declared if his head would win Henry VIII a castle in France, it would not fail to go off. No Château; head gone. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 22

Colette is given the Paris apartment of her dreams through the generosity of its tenant, whom she thought both generous and crazy! Welcome to the salon… #colette #paris #palaisroyal

The Blue Lantern

Colette is given the Paris apartment of her dreams through the generosity of its tenant, whom she thought both generous and crazy! Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 15

Colette claims her writing career would not have come to pass were it not for her first husband. Her third husband explains why. Welcome to the salon… #colette

The Fragile Nature of Testimony

Colette claims her writing career would not have come to pass were it not for her first husband. Her third husband explains why. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 10

I’ve reviewed a wonderful book from @rizzolibooks titled “Lismore Castle: Food and Flowers from a Historic Irish Garden” filled with incredible images and the notable history of the estate, which includes a Hollywood celebrity, and ample Ladies and Lords! #ireland #lismorecastle

A Stroll Through Lismore Castle - SAXON HENRY

Saxon Henry reviews the book Lismore Castle: Food and Flowers from a Historic Irish Garden published by Rizzoli.

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 8

This lead image in my exploration of Petrarch's wold is one of the medieval gates of Bologna, Porto San Donato. He wrote about them in the 14th century when he attended university there. Welcome to the Salon…
#petrarch #bologna #medieval

Gateways to the Fourteenth Century

A renowned poet left written evidence of how he perceived the medieval gates of Bologna, all but two of which remain. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jul 8

After an unsettling start, a writer captivates a man who is eager to share her world of “everyday poetry.” My newest exploration is live on Substack. Welcome to the salon…
#colette #paris #cotedazur

The World of Everyday Poetry

After an unsettling start, a writer captivates a man who is eager to share her world of “everyday poetry.” Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 24

An exhibition and a restored studio at The Portland Art Museum bring a pragmatic Maine artist with an eye for watery drama into focus. Welcome to the salon…
#portland #maine #winslowhomer #proutsneck

Not Without My Notice

An exhibition and a restored studio bring a pragmatic Maine artist with an eye for watery drama into focus. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 18

Edith Wharton became such a successful novelist in large part due to the influence of Walter Berry. How instrumental was he in her development? Welcome to the salon… #edithwharton #novelist #walterberry #literature

After the Long Storm

My fifth exploration into how Edith Wharton became such a successful novelist finds the author reunited with Walter Berry. Welcome to the salon…

saxonhenry.substack.com

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 18

An experience recorded in 1829 illuminates the constancy of the hallowed traditions that transpired as #popeleo was welcomed into such an elite club. Welcome to the salon... #chateaubriand #frenchwriter #rome #thevatican

Considering Papal Transitions

As a pope’s funeral takes place in Rome today, an experience recorded in 1829 illuminates the constancy of the hallowed traditions to come. Welcome to the salon...

saxonhenry.substack.com

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 18

Edith Wharton embraces her chatty side as she is welcomed into the home of an eccentric intellectual. She had quite a lot to say to the mix of Americans and Brits. Step into the salon… #literature #novelists #edithwharton #henryjames

Edith Wharton’s Masculine Mind

Edith embraces her chatty side as she is welcomed into the home of an eccentric intellectual. She had quite a lot to say. Step into the salon…

saxonhenry.substack.com

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 18

One of the ingredients in Edith Wharton’s secret sauce as a novelist was a lawyer-by-day/literary lover in his leisure. Welcome to the salon… #edithwharton #literature

A Sensitive Literary Instinct

One of the ingredients in Edith Wharton’s secret sauce as a novelist was a lawyer-by-day/literary lover in his leisure. Welcome to the salon…

saxonhenry.substack.com

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 18

In this exploration, it becomes clear how Edith Wharton drew into her life mentors who made her who she was as a woman and as a successful novelist. Welcome to the salon… bit.ly/42Rbmx6 #literature #edithwharton

The Land of Letters

Deep-dive number two during our six-week odyssey with Edith Wharton brings to light the first of several mentors who made her who she was. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 18

When Remy de Gourmont declared Natalie Clifford Barney was “l’Amazone,” he created a legend she was eager to proclaim for posterity. Welcome to the salon… #nataliecliffordbarney #paris #salonniere #salonculture

A Legend in the Making

When Remy de Gourmont declared Natalie Clifford Barney was “l’Amazone,” he created a legend she was eager to proclaim for posterity. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 10

One of history’s most capricious salonnières proves how deeply her streak of independence was embedded in her personality. Welcome to the salon…
#nataliecliffordbarney #paris #salonniere

The Mysteries of Self-Initiation

One of history’s most capricious salonnières proves how deeply her streak of independence was embedded in her personality. Welcome to the salon…

Saxon Henry @saxonhenry.bsky.social · Jun 4

“I didn’t create a salon,” Natalie Clifford Barney declared. “A salon was created round me.” Her Friday evenings drew a jaw-dropping list of creatives to her address at 20 rue Jacob in Paris. We take a look back in this piece on #substack.
#Paris #nataliecliffordbarney #salonculture

Getting Lit in Gay Paris

Natalie Clifford Barney welcomed literary greats into her Paris apartment for over six decades as she stirred up plenty of drama. Welcome to the salon…