When I write or speak about Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, the question arises as to how they should be addressed. Should it always be “Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas” or “Miss Stein and Miss Toklas” or “Gertrude and Alice” or somewhat coldly “Stein and Toklas?”
I inaugurated the term “GertrudeandAlice” (one word) when I began this web site since to me they are one interdependent entity and I now use it regularly. “Gertrice/Altrude” was used in an essay about their relationship a number of years ago, though to me that sounds like a new anti-whatever drug advertised on CNN with a myriad of side effects worse than the disorder.
Would we comfortably use “Virginia” when referring to Virginia Woolf or “Will” or “Bill” for Shakespeare? Though “F. Scott” can only mean Mr. Fitzgerald but “Dylan” could be either the Welsh poet or American troubadour.
Of course using the affectionate terms which they used for each other might also be an option. The two best known “Lovey” for Gertrude and “Pussy” for Alice may be problematic both in a lecture hall presentation or coffee shop conversation: “Lovey’s use of repetition, is one of the hallmarks of her style.” “Well, Pussy was more than a bit protective. At times she was downright belligerent!”
Their calling cards always included “Miss” in front of their names, a not uncommon Victorian standard. I would hope that were they living today it would be one card with “Ms. Gertrude Stein & Ms. Alice B. Toklas.”
Hand-in-hand: Ms. Gertrude Stein & Ms. Alice B. Toklas
In a quick scan of books of letters written to friends, Gertrude usually used “Alice” whenever referring to her partner and Alice most often used “Gertrude.” However, in her role as secretary, Alice both in hand-written and typewritten notes religiously used “Miss Gertrude Stein” in business correspondence or in confirming appointments.
Whenever Gertrude was mentioned in the press of the day, a first reference to “Gertrude Stein” in the course of the article became “Miss Stein” and “Miss Alice B. Toklas, companion” would also appear, the shadow of the self-proclaimed genius.
So, where does that leave my style-sheet?
Let’s say that whenever there are references to specific books by either Gertrude or Alice, it will be “Stein’s THE MAKING OF AMERICANS” and “Toklas’s ALICE B. TOKLAS COOKBOOK.” Whenever it is a personal reference to a specific friend or family matter it will be “Gertrude’s brother Michael” and “Alice’s letter to Thornton Wilder.” When it is a reference to the two of them then “GertrudeandAlice” is in order: “GertrudeandAlice’s Saturday salon.”
Are these rules hard and fast? No.
Will there be exceptions? Yes.
Is this confusing?
Possibly, but take 2 Gertrice and call me in the morning!
COPYRIGHT HANS GALLAS ©2009
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