L'Art De Vivre: A Fable About Paris in the 1930s

Rating:
Summary: Living Art to the Fullest
Review: M. le Baron Olivier d'Anglade is growing weary of his wealth and respectable political position among the Parisian aristocrats. Richard Rosendale is equally tired of his failure as an avant-garde sculptor. Through an astonishing turn of events - and after several bottles of fantastic French wine - these two unlikely protagonists discover the true art of living and dying in the magical Paris of the 1930's. Mr. Schwartz's novella is intelligently written, full of surprises, and a charming delight.

Rating:
Summary: Living Art to the Fullest
Review: M. le Baron Olivier d'Anglade is growing weary of his wealth and respectable political position among the Parisian aristocrats. Richard Rosendale is equally tired of his failure as an avant-garde sculptor. Through an astonishing turn of events - and after several bottles of fantastic French wine - these two unlikely protagonists discover the true art of living and dying in the magical Paris of the 1930's. Mr. Schwartz's novella is intelligently written, full of surprises, and a charming delight.

Rating:
Summary: A sexy, funny romp through the decadent world of 1930s Paris
Review: Schwartz's style combines the phrasing and world view of Marcel Proust, the wry humor and pithy dialogue of Noel Coward, and the surreal plot twists of the theater of the absurd in order to recount just how far three couples are willing to go to resolve their respective difficulties.

To what unsavory ends will the the highly respectable D'Anglades stoop in order to bring the sexual electricity back to their marriage? What desperately creative measures will starving artist Richard come up with in order to draw attention -- and therefore financial backing -- to his works? And last but not least, how will his gallery owner friends hold on to their struggling business after the financial blow of Richard's final, disastrous showing in their venue?

Although by definition a fable should end with a moral, the author has cleverly left the reader to decide what it might be for her / himself. And I certainly won't tell you my thoughts on this matter: to do so would only spoil all the fun.