Latest news with #Twain
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Still the One: Shania Twain arrives in Calgary while in midst of a career reinvention
Article content Warner said the past decade or so has seen Twain reinvent herself while asserting her place in music history and stressing that it was her, not Lange or industry power brokers, that steered her career. The Netflix documentary is a case in point. Article content 'The bio doc allowed her to set the record straight about things that people hadn't really known before,' said Warner. 'The fact that she was editing her music videos, the fact that she was the architect of all those iconic outfits. Article content 'Obviously there is a team there, but she is having a central role in everything. I think that had largely been missing. She hadn't taken necessarily public ownership of that information before, for who knows what reason. Article content 'Now she is here telling her own story. I think with her last record, Queen of Me, she really believed in that title and showed up on that album in a way that told us that she feels good about who she is right now. That's hard to do for any of us, let alone someone who has been extremely famous in the public eye. Article content Article content 'Just because you are beautiful and talented doesn't always mean you feel good about yourself. It's really wonderful to see her come into her own.' Article content Maybe she will drop in. Jesse Moffatt, NMC's director of collections and exhibitions, doesn't believe Twain has ever set foot in the centre, but she is well-represented within its walls, and rightly so. Article content Twain was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2011, but has not yet been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. The National Music Centre is the physical home of both institutions. Article content Article content 'If you think of Canada's biggest stars, Shania is definitely one of the top ones,' says Moffat. 'I think by last count, hasn't she sold 100 million albums? To put that in perspective, Nickelback is huge and I think they are at 60 million. Article content Article content 'It's pretty impressive in what she has been able to accomplish.' Article content Among its hundreds of artifacts, the National Music Centre has both the Toronto Maple Leaf and Ottawa Senator-inspired outfits that Twain wore when hosting the 2003 Juno awards in Ottawa. Article content The centre also has a signed halter top that Twain wore during her first stadium tour in 1998. Article content The custom-made ball gown she sported at the 2018 Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Hamilton, Ont., is currently on display in the centre's Idols and Icons exhibit. Article content 'For someone who grew up in the 1990s, when she came on the scene she just exploded,' Moffat says. 'I think she redefined what country music could be. Article content
Calgary Herald
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Still the One: Shania Twain arrives in Calgary while in midst of a career reinvention
Article content In Andrea Warner's essay Shania Twain: Bad Feelings, Bare Midriffs and Breaking Ground, the music critic writes about the strong feelings she had about Twain when she was a teenage music buff and budding feminist. Article content Strong and strongly negative. Article content 'As a teenager, I couldn't stand Twain,' Warner writes in her book of essays, We Outta Know: How Celine, Shania, Alanis and Sarah Ruled the '90s and Changed Music. Article content Article content 'I vehemently objected to her brand of coy, sexy country-pop that I felt pushed women's equality back ten or fifteen years. I wrote her off as a construct of male fantasy: A girl who could ride a horse while showing off a perfectly sculpted bare midriff by day and slip into some sort of cleavage-baring cocktail dress at night, the emphasis always on her sex appeal first, relatability second, and talent third.' Article content Article content Warner updated her book in 2024, but it first came out in 2015. That was 22 years after Twain first 'hit the country music industry like a grenade' and became one of the most successful musicians in the cosmos. Article content Now an associate producer with CBC Music, her updated essay on Twain celebrates the artist as a feminist force whose wild success gave value to women, female artists and forever changed the industry. She also offers a detailed appraisal of Twain's music and suggests that even her earliest work had merit, showcasing her significant chops as a songwriter. Article content Article content 'As a teenager, I had embarrassingly negative feelings,' says Warner, in an interview from her home in Vancouver. 'I was . . . coming into my own understanding of feminism and I had this idea that I couldn't love Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan and also have any space at all and good feelings or goodwill towards Shania Twain and Celine Dion. Article content 'It's super embarrassing now, in hindsight, but it came from an honest place when I was a teenager. It was very difficult for me to wrap my brain around the songs she was singing and the things that I was taking lyrically from her music, which seemed to me to be all about love, all about getting a man. All of these different things that I thought were antithetical to me as a very young 16-year-old feminist.' Article content It doesn't take long into the essay for Warner to admit she was off base. She now sees Twain as an artist who used 'skillful manipulation of the surface to push her subversive, secret agenda — an agenda that would change country music, for a little while at least, and give rise to a new generation of women writing their own material.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Muskoka is a popular Canada Day and summer vacation spot for celebrities. Which stars have spent time in the Canadian region?
Canada Day is a time to celebrate the early days of summer, with warm weather, swimming time and outdoor barbecues effectively marking the start of a new season. As we head into the hotter months of the year, what better way to cool off than to spend time in the Muskoka region of Ontario? For many celebrities, vacationing in the Ontario region is a no brainer. Between Canadian stars like Justin Bieber and Shania Twain, to A-listers including Cindy Crawford and David and Victoria Beckham, it's an area that's often frequented by some of the most recognizable names in entertainment. The Canadian gem has won over the hearts of other stars looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Below are some of the many big names who have enjoyed trips to the Muskoka region over the years. Last October, the 59-year-old country-pop icon celebrated the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend in the area. The "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" hitmaker took to Instagram on Oct. 14, 2024, to share a photo of herself bundled up on a dock while sitting in a Muskoka chair. "There isn't anywhere more beautiful than Canada in the fall, and there isn't a better feeling than being warm and cozy in the crisp, cold air," she wrote. "Thankful for friends and family and this fabulous view. Heaven!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shania Twain (@shaniatwain) Canadian fans (and fellow celebrities) were quick to echo Twain's love of Canada. "Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!" commented fellow Canadian songstress Avril Lavigne. "It's like God dumped bright colours on all the trees. Growing up in northern Ontario, it was my favourite season," wrote a fan. While Twain spent her younger years in Timmins, Ont., she now spends some of her time a bit further south, in Ontario's Muskoka cottage country. Twain reportedly has a home in Lake of Bays. Last August, Cindy Crawford and husband Rande Gerber bid farewell to another summer spent in the Ontario cottage region. Late that month, the 59-year-old supermodel shared a carousel of photos on Instagram, including snapshots of herself and loved ones enjoying the Muskoka region. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) Crawford showed off various selfies of her summer getaway, as well as pictures of herself paddleboarding, posing on her speedboat and eating delicious meals. She also included more photos of her 63-year-old husband, along with their two kids, 25-year-old Presley Gerber and 23-year-old Kaia Gerber. They posted an intimate sneak peek inside their Lake Muskoka cottage, nicknamed "Gerber Point Lodge." "Thanks for another great summer," Crawford captioned her post, alongside a sun emoji. "Until next year." It's not the first time Crawford has reflected on spending a summer in Ontario's cottage country. In summer 2022, she made a few Instagram posts of her time at their cabin, including a video of herself steering a boat and a carousel of photos of her husband at their lakeside property. Last summer, Victoria Beckham shared another series of photos from her and her family's summer spent in the Muskoka area. On Aug. 27, 2024, she posted a carousel of snapshots featuring loved ones, as well as a group photo featuring Crawford and Gerber. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) "Special family moments in Muskoka," she wrote with a Canadian flag emoji. "Kisses, #SalterFamily, I love you all so much!!" The 51-year-old fashion designer also tagged her 50-year-old husband David, as well as kids Romeo, Cruz and Harper. The previous summer, Victoria shared another carousel of photos from a family trip to the Muskoka area. On Aug. 7, 2023, she posted a variety of candid lake-side pictures of herself and loved ones. The post featured a picture of herself waterskiing, along with snapshots of the family enjoying the lake life. She also shared a photo of her and her husband posing with Canadian businessman Jamie Salter and his wife, Sheryl, on the water. "The most perfect few days in Muskoka with beautiful friends," Victoria captioned that post. In the comments section, people expressed their love for the English couple and welcomed them to Canada. "Come back soon! Hope you enjoyed your stay in the Muskokas!!" one person wrote, while someone else wrote, "Welcome to our playground." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) Victoria Beckham also took to social media last summer to share a video featuring husband David, son Cruz and Elvis star Austin Butler lifting a fallen tree trunk above their heads. Butler, 33, likely spent time with the Beckhams while visiting the Muskoka region with then-girlfriend Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's daughter. "Did you ever think you would see Elvis and Beckham lifting a tree? Helping the community in Muskoka. I'm impressed, gentleman!" Victoria captioned her clip on Aug. 6, 2023. In the comments, fans praised Butler and the Beckhams for embracing "the Canadian way." "How very Canadian of them," a fan wrote, while another added, "they are being so helpful like friendly Canadians." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber (@haileybieber) While Hailey and Justin Bieber don't currently own property in Muskoka, they've rented places on Lake Rosseau and Old Woman Island on Lake Muskoka in the past, according to Hello! magazine. The couple, who welcomed their first baby together last summer, reportedly kick back in the region often. Muskoka might be one of the couple's favourite Canadian destinations, but an area closer to Toronto appeared to steal their hearts back in 2018. That year, according to iDesignArch, Justin, 31, and Hailey, 28, purchased a $5-million waterfront estate on Puslinch Lake near Cambridge, Ont. In July 2023, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu took to Instagram with a carousel of snaps from a vacation in Muskoka. In the sun-soaked photos from Goshulak Island, the 35-year-old actor spent time on the lake boating, jet-skiing and wakeboarding with his fiancée, Allison Hsu. In his now-deleted post, the Canadian star included a caption that was nothing short of a love letter to Goshulak Island, revealing it has been his "safe haven for over a decade." The 36-year-old Barbie actor added he "lived a lot of life and seen many things in those years, but nothing quite compares to the majesty of the lake." According to Forbes, actors Goldie Hawn, 79, and Kurt Russell, 74, own property on Lake Rosseau, north of Lake Muskoka. It's where the couple have spent summer vacations with Hawn's 45-year-old daughter, Kate Hudson. In a red carpet interview with etalk at the 2023 Oscars, Hudson recalled her family's go-to pit-stop when driving up to their Northern retreat. "You got to go to Tim Hortons, and I usually just get coffee," she told Canadian TV host Tyrone Edwards. Canadian comedian Martin Short is a big fan of Muskoka. The Only Murders in the Building star owns a cottage on Lake Rosseau and has even honoured his summer getaways in Ontario by creating a collector's coin. In 2013, the 75-year-old actor teamed up with artist Tony Bianco to create a $3 coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. The collector's item features Short's summer home, a sailboat and two Adirondack chairs. "As much as I adore the excitement of cities, it's rural Canada that has always had my heart," the Hamilton, Ont.-born star said in a press release that year. "When I'm there, I feel like I'm in heaven. More than anything, that's what Canada means to me." View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) In August 2022, David Beckham shared a photo on Instagram posing with Canadian billionaire Jamie Salter, 63, Ted actor Mark Wahlberg, 54, and former Toronto Maple Leafs player Tie Domi, 55. In the picture, the four men flashed bright smiles for the camera and put their arms around each other. "Great few days in Muskoka," Beckham shared in the caption, alongside a Canadian flag emoji. "With family and friends. Wow, what a place. And yes, we laughed a lot and drank a little. The best." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shenae Grimes-Beech (@shenaegrimesbeech) In July 2022, 90210 star Shenae Grimes-Beech shared a set of photos from her family holiday in Muskoka on her Instagram Stories. "Found a strip of pop-up shops made out of pastel-painted shipping containers in the middle of the woods. Muskoka, you're great," she captioned the first snap. The 35-year-old actress doubled down on her love for the region by sharing an additional photo of herself jet skiing, paired with the caption, "I repeat... Muskoka, you're great," alongside a Canadian flag emoji. According to Forbes, Forrest Gump actor Tom Hanks has planted roots on the coastline of Lake Muskoka. The 68-year-old star owns a stunning lakeside cottage full of bay and picture windows, according to Bavarian Window Works. In the past, Hanks has shown his love for Canadians and the country's beauty. He replied to a letter from a fan in Toronto in 2016 who made a bet to see who could get a bet from a famous actor the fastest. "Toronto, huh? D— fine town," he wrote in his response, enclosed with a photo of himself. "Growing fast, all those condo towers down on the lake." The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills actress Lisa Rinna and her Clash of the Titans-starring husband, Harry Hamlin, have been taking getaways to the Muskoka area for years. They've reportedly spent many summers on Governors Island in Lake Joseph, where Hamlin's family has had a cottage for more than a century. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L I S A R I N N A (@lisarinna) In August 2023, Rinna took to Instagram with a carousel of photos from her summer in the region that year. "Some lake life 2023," the 61-year-old star captioned that post, alongside a Canadian flag emoji. Fans back then shared their appreciation for the post in the comments section. "Have the same view! It's the best," wrote New York-based stylist Leslie Fremar. "You rock," a fan added. Summer McIntosh might be an Olympic-winning swimmer, but that doesn't mean she can't spend a bit of vacation time on Lake Muskoka. Following the Paris Olympics last year, the 18-year-old athlete took off to her family's cottage in the area with "the girls." The Toronto-born swimmer took to Instagram last August to share a carousel of photos with her friends enjoying the lake-side relaxation time. In the photos, the women posed on a dock wearing bikinis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Summer McIntosh (@summerrmcintosh) "I think her favourite place is our cottage up north, she's just so excited to go there," McIntosh's mom, Jill, said last summer, according to the National Post. "She loves outdoors. She loves waterskiing. She doesn't do any swimming up there — she might do a cannon ball off the dock and that's it.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Muskoka is a popular Canada Day and summer vacation spot for celebrities. Which stars have spent time in the Canadian region?
Canada Day is a time to celebrate the early days of summer, with warm weather, swimming time and outdoor barbecues effectively marking the start of a new season. As we head into the hotter months of the year, what better way to cool off than to spend time in the Muskoka region of Ontario? For many celebrities, vacationing in the Ontario region is a no brainer. Between Canadian stars like Justin Bieber and Shania Twain, to A-listers including Cindy Crawford and David and Victoria Beckham, it's an area that's often frequented by some of the most recognizable names in entertainment. The Canadian gem has won over the hearts of other stars looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Below are some of the many big names who have enjoyed trips to the Muskoka region over the years. Last October, the 59-year-old country-pop icon celebrated the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend in the area. The "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" hitmaker took to Instagram on Oct. 14, 2024, to share a photo of herself bundled up on a dock while sitting in a Muskoka chair. "There isn't anywhere more beautiful than Canada in the fall, and there isn't a better feeling than being warm and cozy in the crisp, cold air," she wrote. "Thankful for friends and family and this fabulous view. Heaven!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shania Twain (@shaniatwain) Canadian fans (and fellow celebrities) were quick to echo Twain's love of Canada. "Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!" commented fellow Canadian songstress Avril Lavigne. "It's like God dumped bright colours on all the trees. Growing up in northern Ontario, it was my favourite season," wrote a fan. While Twain spent her younger years in Timmins, Ont., she now spends some of her time a bit further south, in Ontario's Muskoka cottage country. Twain reportedly has a home in Lake of Bays. Last August, Cindy Crawford and husband Rande Gerber bid farewell to another summer spent in the Ontario cottage region. Late that month, the 59-year-old supermodel shared a carousel of photos on Instagram, including snapshots of herself and loved ones enjoying the Muskoka region. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) Crawford showed off various selfies of her summer getaway, as well as pictures of herself paddleboarding, posing on her speedboat and eating delicious meals. She also included more photos of her 63-year-old husband, along with their two kids, 25-year-old Presley Gerber and 23-year-old Kaia Gerber. They posted an intimate sneak peek inside their Lake Muskoka cottage, nicknamed "Gerber Point Lodge." "Thanks for another great summer," Crawford captioned her post, alongside a sun emoji. "Until next year." It's not the first time Crawford has reflected on spending a summer in Ontario's cottage country. In summer 2022, she made a few Instagram posts of her time at their cabin, including a video of herself steering a boat and a carousel of photos of her husband at their lakeside property. Last summer, Victoria Beckham shared another series of photos from her and her family's summer spent in the Muskoka area. On Aug. 27, 2024, she posted a carousel of snapshots featuring loved ones, as well as a group photo featuring Crawford and Gerber. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) "Special family moments in Muskoka," she wrote with a Canadian flag emoji. "Kisses, #SalterFamily, I love you all so much!!" The 51-year-old fashion designer also tagged her 50-year-old husband David, as well as kids Romeo, Cruz and Harper. The previous summer, Victoria shared another carousel of photos from a family trip to the Muskoka area. On Aug. 7, 2023, she posted a variety of candid lake-side pictures of herself and loved ones. The post featured a picture of herself waterskiing, along with snapshots of the family enjoying the lake life. She also shared a photo of her and her husband posing with Canadian businessman Jamie Salter and his wife, Sheryl, on the water. "The most perfect few days in Muskoka with beautiful friends," Victoria captioned that post. In the comments section, people expressed their love for the English couple and welcomed them to Canada. "Come back soon! Hope you enjoyed your stay in the Muskokas!!" one person wrote, while someone else wrote, "Welcome to our playground." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) Victoria Beckham also took to social media last summer to share a video featuring husband David, son Cruz and Elvis star Austin Butler lifting a fallen tree trunk above their heads. Butler, 33, likely spent time with the Beckhams while visiting the Muskoka region with then-girlfriend Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's daughter. "Did you ever think you would see Elvis and Beckham lifting a tree? Helping the community in Muskoka. I'm impressed, gentleman!" Victoria captioned her clip on Aug. 6, 2023. In the comments, fans praised Butler and the Beckhams for embracing "the Canadian way." "How very Canadian of them," a fan wrote, while another added, "they are being so helpful like friendly Canadians." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber (@haileybieber) While Hailey and Justin Bieber don't currently own property in Muskoka, they've rented places on Lake Rosseau and Old Woman Island on Lake Muskoka in the past, according to Hello! magazine. The couple, who welcomed their first baby together last summer, reportedly kick back in the region often. Muskoka might be one of the couple's favourite Canadian destinations, but an area closer to Toronto appeared to steal their hearts back in 2018. That year, according to iDesignArch, Justin, 31, and Hailey, 28, purchased a $5-million waterfront estate on Puslinch Lake near Cambridge, Ont. In July 2023, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu took to Instagram with a carousel of snaps from a vacation in Muskoka. In the sun-soaked photos from Goshulak Island, the 35-year-old actor spent time on the lake boating, jet-skiing and wakeboarding with his fiancée, Allison Hsu. In his now-deleted post, the Canadian star included a caption that was nothing short of a love letter to Goshulak Island, revealing it has been his "safe haven for over a decade." The 36-year-old Barbie actor added he "lived a lot of life and seen many things in those years, but nothing quite compares to the majesty of the lake." According to Forbes, actors Goldie Hawn, 79, and Kurt Russell, 74, own property on Lake Rosseau, north of Lake Muskoka. It's where the couple have spent summer vacations with Hawn's 45-year-old daughter, Kate Hudson. In a red carpet interview with etalk at the 2023 Oscars, Hudson recalled her family's go-to pit-stop when driving up to their Northern retreat. "You got to go to Tim Hortons, and I usually just get coffee," she told Canadian TV host Tyrone Edwards. Canadian comedian Martin Short is a big fan of Muskoka. The Only Murders in the Building star owns a cottage on Lake Rosseau and has even honoured his summer getaways in Ontario by creating a collector's coin. In 2013, the 75-year-old actor teamed up with artist Tony Bianco to create a $3 coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. The collector's item features Short's summer home, a sailboat and two Adirondack chairs. "As much as I adore the excitement of cities, it's rural Canada that has always had my heart," the Hamilton, Ont.-born star said in a press release that year. "When I'm there, I feel like I'm in heaven. More than anything, that's what Canada means to me." View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) In August 2022, David Beckham shared a photo on Instagram posing with Canadian billionaire Jamie Salter, 63, Ted actor Mark Wahlberg, 54, and former Toronto Maple Leafs player Tie Domi, 55. In the picture, the four men flashed bright smiles for the camera and put their arms around each other. "Great few days in Muskoka," Beckham shared in the caption, alongside a Canadian flag emoji. "With family and friends. Wow, what a place. And yes, we laughed a lot and drank a little. The best." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shenae Grimes-Beech (@shenaegrimesbeech) In July 2022, 90210 star Shenae Grimes-Beech shared a set of photos from her family holiday in Muskoka on her Instagram Stories. "Found a strip of pop-up shops made out of pastel-painted shipping containers in the middle of the woods. Muskoka, you're great," she captioned the first snap. The 35-year-old actress doubled down on her love for the region by sharing an additional photo of herself jet skiing, paired with the caption, "I repeat... Muskoka, you're great," alongside a Canadian flag emoji. According to Forbes, Forrest Gump actor Tom Hanks has planted roots on the coastline of Lake Muskoka. The 68-year-old star owns a stunning lakeside cottage full of bay and picture windows, according to Bavarian Window Works. In the past, Hanks has shown his love for Canadians and the country's beauty. He replied to a letter from a fan in Toronto in 2016 who made a bet to see who could get a bet from a famous actor the fastest. "Toronto, huh? D— fine town," he wrote in his response, enclosed with a photo of himself. "Growing fast, all those condo towers down on the lake." The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills actress Lisa Rinna and her Clash of the Titans-starring husband, Harry Hamlin, have been taking getaways to the Muskoka area for years. They've reportedly spent many summers on Governors Island in Lake Joseph, where Hamlin's family has had a cottage for more than a century. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L I S A R I N N A (@lisarinna) In August 2023, Rinna took to Instagram with a carousel of photos from her summer in the region that year. "Some lake life 2023," the 61-year-old star captioned that post, alongside a Canadian flag emoji. Fans back then shared their appreciation for the post in the comments section. "Have the same view! It's the best," wrote New York-based stylist Leslie Fremar. "You rock," a fan added. Summer McIntosh might be an Olympic-winning swimmer, but that doesn't mean she can't spend a bit of vacation time on Lake Muskoka. Following the Paris Olympics last year, the 18-year-old athlete took off to her family's cottage in the area with "the girls." The Toronto-born swimmer took to Instagram last August to share a carousel of photos with her friends enjoying the lake-side relaxation time. In the photos, the women posed on a dock wearing bikinis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Summer McIntosh (@summerrmcintosh) "I think her favourite place is our cottage up north, she's just so excited to go there," McIntosh's mom, Jill, said last summer, according to the National Post. "She loves outdoors. She loves waterskiing. She doesn't do any swimming up there — she might do a cannon ball off the dock and that's it.
Atlantic
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
Launches ‘The Writer's Way,' in Which Leading Writers, Novelists, and Poets Explore Cities Across the World Through the Eyes of Their Favorite Authors
The Atlantic announces today ' The Writer's Way,' a new series featuring prominent writers, novelists, and poets, as they explore cities across the world through the eyes of their favorite authors. Each essay captures one of literature's most memorable places, and is accompanied by a sidebar of recommendations for travelers who want to explore the locale for themselves. The series begins with three essays this summer: Caity Weaver reporting from Mark Twain's Paris, published today; Honor Jones reporting from John le Carré's Corfu; and Lauren Groff reporting from Lady Murasaki's Kyoto. For the first entry in the series, staff writer Caity Weaver makes her Atlantic debut, as she flies to Paris in search of modern resonances with Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad, first published in 1869, around the same time Twain was regularly contributing to The Atlantic. For the essay, Caity visits some of the sites—the Louvre, Versailles—that Twain introduced to many Americans, pursues some side adventures, and matches the author's sense of humor with her own. Caity writes: 'For as long as Paris has existed, a group of people known by many names— derelicts; lollygaggers; scammers; bums —have sought to pass time there at no cost to themselves. Once, some 2,000 years ago, so many such personages (then known as barbarians) came to Paris simultaneously that the city was destroyed. Today, their descendants are politely called writers. One of the most successful to ever do it was a larkish American steamboat operator. In 1866, when he was 31, he convinced a San Francisco newspaper that the crucial thing to do in the lurid gloaming following the Civil War—as Army officials were yet racing to recover human remains before they were eaten by hogs—was to send him on a five-month 'great pleasure excursion' through Europe and the Middle East at the paper's expense. In exchange, he would send back riotous letters describing his trip. And that is how Mark Twain got to Paris.' Caity continues: 'Virtually every living American, save those blind from infancy, has seen images of Paris. There is no need for a civilian to travel there and describe it. And yet, the wastrel, the conniver—the author—must ask: Wouldn't it be best to send one more? Just to be sure? Isn't it possible that dispatching a 21st-century writer to Paris to tramp along in Twain's wake might enhance the modern reader's appreciation of Twain's work by proxy? It's certainly not im possible. Shouldn't we follow this instinct? Mightn't it be flat-out imperative for us to do so? And that is how I got to Paris!' 'The Writer's Way' will continue with Honor's and Lauren's essays this summer, and represents the latest in a major expansion of The Atlantic' s books coverage, including criticism, reporting about the publishing industry, author profiles, and the publication of more original fiction and poetry. Earlier this year, The Atlantic released a major literary project, ' The Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far),' and in September will co-publish the book The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry, bringing together nearly 100 poems originally published in The Atlantic from its founding in 1857 to 2024. 'The Writer's Way' is supported by Bottega Veneta. Press Contacts: Anna Bross and Paul Jackson | The Atlantic
