Skip to content
Saturday, October 17, 2026

SAXON HENRY

Author | Journalist | Content Strategist | The Modern Salonnière
SAXON HENRY
Author | Journalist | Content Strategist | The Modern Salonnière
  • A Writing Life
  • Client Testimonials
  • Journalism
  • Content Strategy
  • Blog
  • Design Diary
  • Shop for Books
  • Reviews

Tag: famous writers

As a writer who puts words on a page (screen) every day, I’m in awe of the famous writers of the past. I take the time to read their works, visit the neighborhoods where they lived when I can and delve into their papers when possible.

Presenting one of my strongest diary entries about famous writers, I take you to Paris where I have explored Hemingway’s former neighborhoods on the Left Bank quite extensively. Using his memoir A Moveable Feast, I’ve channeled his mood as I made my way between the addresses of his apartments and studio to his favorite cafes, one of which is La Closerie des Lilas. I admire his muscle, which I’ve read in letters to others in their papers at the Beinecke Library at Yale University.

in a letter to Malcolm Cowley in 1945, for instance, he wrote, “Been working every day and going good. Makes a hell of a dull life too. But it is more fun than anything else. Do you remember how old [Ford Madox] Ford was always writing how [Joseph] Conrad suffered so when he wrote? How it was un métier du chien [a dog’s trade]. Do you suffer when you write? I don’t at all. Suffer like a bastard when I don’t write, or just before, and feel empty and fucked out afterwards. But never feel as good as while writing.” I have a number of posts under this tag so if you’ve enjoyed this snippet, I hope you’ll stop by and read about other famous writers.

Saxon Henry’s newest book of travel essays has been published.
Books Creative Writing Travel

Reviews of Lives Illuminated

Saxon Henry July 23, 2024 Edith WhartonEnglandErnest HemingwayEzra Poundfamous writersFord Madox FordGertrude SteinHenry JamesMarie AntoinetteMarie-Louise of AustriaNapoleonPeggy Guggenheim

I’m thrilled with the reviews of Lives Illuminated, my newest book, that are coming in from readers. This second book in The Modern Salonniére series holds eleven essays…

View More Reviews of Lives Illuminated
Firsts Book Fair on Saxon Henry
Art Books Literature

Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair

Saxon Henry April 30, 2024 British poetsEnglandfamous writersGreat Britainkeeping diarieslibrariesLondon

The 2024 edition of London’s Rare Book Fair, aptly titled Firsts, runs from the 16th to the 19th of May at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. This…

View More Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair
Milan Duomo
Creative Writing Literature Travel

Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan

Saxon Henry February 10, 2022 books of letterscathedrals to exploreDante Alighierifamous writersItalypoetryRome

This essay channeling Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan is included in my book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature similar literary…

View More Percy Bysshe Shelley in Milan
Petrarch's former residence in Italy
Books Creative Writing Literature

Treasures According to Petrarch

Saxon Henry July 20, 2021 Beinecke LibraryDante Alighierifamous writerslibrariesMedieval TimesPetrarchphilosopherspoetryRenaissance

This essay defining what Petrarch saw as treasures is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the book feature…

View More Treasures According to Petrarch
Daunt Books in London is also featured in Bookstores. Image © Horst A. Friedrichs.
Books Cultural Explorations Travel

Bookstores

Saxon Henry May 9, 2021 American poetsEnglandErnest Hemingwayfamous writersLondonLost GenerationNew York CitynovelistsParis

I’ve had a long and passionate love affair with bookstores since I can remember. Some of my finest hours have been spent perusing shelves to…

View More Bookstores
Two tango dancers in Buenos Aires
Books Cultural Explorations Travel

Tatty Wreckage in Buenos Aires

Saxon Henry December 15, 2020 American poetsfamous writerskeeping diariesnovelists

This essay about my frame of mind in Buenos Aires is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in…

View More Tatty Wreckage in Buenos Aires
Ernest Hemingway in Paris
Creative Writing Literature Travel

Life Lessons from a Research Library

Saxon Henry November 17, 2020 American poetsBeinecke LibraryEdith Whartonfamous writersGertrude Steinkeeping diarieslibrariesLost Generationnovelistssummer reading list

This essay exploring the life lessons I have learned from a research library is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other…

View More Life Lessons from a Research Library
“The Funeral of Shelley” by Louis Édouard Fournier (1889); pictured in the centre are, from left, Trelawny, Hunt, and Byron.
Books Creative Writing Interior Design

Leigh Hunt Avid Decorator

Saxon Henry August 24, 2020 British poetsEnglandfamous writersGreat BritainLondonModern Salonnièrenobilitynonfiction writerspoetrysalonnieresummer reading list

This essay about the decorating exploits of Leigh Hunt is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other essays in the…

View More Leigh Hunt Avid Decorator
Books Creative Writing Literature

Dylan Thomas in America

Saxon Henry July 14, 2020 authenticityfamous writersNew York Citypoetrypopular moviessummer reading list

This essay exploring the downward spiral of Dylan Thomas during tours of America is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other…

View More Dylan Thomas in America
When Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to paint his personal library, one of the four frescoes he completed, The School of Athens, includes Michelangelo leaning on a makeshift table writing poetry. Image courtesy WikiMedia.
Books Literature Travel

Saluting the Renaissance Book Club

Saxon Henry June 11, 2020 books of lettersdead poets societyfamous writersFlorenceItalyMichelangeloPetrarchphilosophersRenaissanceWashington DC

This essay celebrating the first printing presses during the Renaissance in Florence, Italy, is included in my most recent book The Modern Salonnière. The 34 other…

View More Saluting the Renaissance Book Club

Posts pagination

Page 1 Page 2 … Page 6 Next page
Subscribe to My Substack Publication
My Books on Bookshop.org

Kindle Edition of Lives Illuminated

The Modern Salonniere by Saxon Henry

Kindle Edition of The Modern Salonniere

Collaborations: A Houston Penthouse by Saxon Henry
Stranded on the Road to Promise by Saxon Henry
Anywhere but here, a book of poems by Saxon Henry

Around the Web

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Amazon
  • Bluesky

Like Saxon Henry on Facebook

Like Saxon Henry on Facebook
My Profile on MuckRack

SAXON HENRY | Designed by: Theme Freesia | WordPress | © Copyright All right reserved