An American in Paris: Gertrude Stein was one of the most insightful and original voices of the 20th century. In her salon, the avant-garde came and went; she was a writer, publisher, philosopher, and art collector. She wrote experimental novels, novellas, essays, poems, literary portraits, and stage works, in which she defied linguistic and literary conventions. The reader, edited by Uda Strätling, provides insights into the astonishing range of her work - a roadmap for anyone who wants to learn more than just the famous "A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.".