When you hear the name Natalie Barney, especially in literary circles, you might picture a grand Parisian salon, a hub of intellectual and artistic ferment. And you wouldn't be wrong. For over six decades, her home in Paris was a legendary gathering place for luminaries like Gertrude Stein, Colette, Ezra Pound, and many others. She was a writer herself, but her notoriety, as one observer put it, stemmed even more from being "unquestionably the leading lesbian of her time."
But the question that often surfaces, perhaps driven by a natural curiosity about the private lives of such public figures, is about her personal relationships. Specifically, who was Natalie Barney married to in real life?
The answer, quite simply, is that Natalie Clifford Barney never married. Her life was a deliberate departure from conventional norms, a path she chose with conviction. Born in Ohio in 1876, she moved to Paris and carved out a unique existence, becoming a celebrated figure in France while remaining less known in her native land.
Her relationships were deeply significant, though they didn't follow the traditional marital path. The reference material highlights her close bond with Romaine Brooks, an artist and her "oldest friend," whose death she felt keenly. She also had interactions with other notable figures; for instance, she recalled walks with Gertrude Stein and her dog, though her memories of Alice B. Toklas were surprisingly vague. She remembered Ezra Pound, even playing tennis with him, and had recollections of George Antheil and Virgil Thomson.
When she met a writer who was married with children, Barney's reaction was striking: "Why, then your career is finished!" This comment, perhaps more than anything, underscores her perspective on life and commitment, a perspective that prioritized her own chosen path and artistic pursuits above all else.
She herself acknowledged the daring nature of her choices, remarking that "It was very dangerous then." This suggests a conscious decision to live authentically, even when it meant defying societal expectations. Her life was a testament to forging her own way, surrounded by a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, but without the legal or social ties of marriage.
