Books: Borderland of Bohemia

MISIA AND THE MUSES (212 pp.)—Misia Serf—John Day ($3.50).

Old Franz Liszt sighed as Misia Sert played the piano, "Ah, if only I could still play like that." Grieg asked her to play the Peer Gynt Suite with him. Ibsen presented her with his autographed portrait. Mallarme wrote poems to her. Verlaine read her his verse and wept. Toulouse Lautrec painted her picture, then tickled the soles of her feet with his brush. Bonnard did murals for her salon. Picasso made her godmother to his first child. Proust called her beautiful. Maillol asked her...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!