Gertrude Stein lived in Paris from 1903. With her brother Leo she acted as patron for a number of soon-to-be famous artists, most notably Pablo Picasso. Published in 1940, on the day that Paris fell to the Germans, Paris France blends Steins childhood memories of Paris with trenchant observations about everything French. It is a witty fricasse of food and fashion, pets and painters, musicians, friends and artists, served up with a healthy garnish of Steinien humour and self-indulgence.