My singing voice had rescued me from the scene I was in at school - I was an unpopular, bookish kid who had an indeterminate ethnic background. I became fascinated with women sopranos because they had a future that I didn't as a singer. Alexander Chee backgroundbookishethnic share on social
The year was 1882. The palace was the Luxembourg Palace: the ball, the Senat Bal, held at the beginning of autumn. It was still warm, and so the garden was used as well. I was the soprano. I was Lilliet Berne. Alexander Chee autumnbalball share on social
By the 1880s, English translations of both the French and the Russian editions were available, and Americans began to read 'War and Peace.' Alexander Chee 1880samericanbegin Change image and share on social
The Narrator of 'A Sport and a Pastime' is an American photographer living in a borrowed house in what he calls 'the real France,' Autun, a small town where he hopes to take some career-changing photographs in the spirit of Atget. Alexander Chee americanatgetautun share on social
My first letter of acceptance, to UMass - Amherst, came with an offer of a fellowship and a note from John Edgar Wideman. Alexander Chee acceptanceamherstedgar Change image and share on social
Liz Benedict, a teacher of mine at Iowa, is the person who introduced me to James Salter's work. Alexander Chee benedictintroduceiowa Change image and share on social
Fate and history have a similar feeling. They are weird mirrors to each other. Alexander Chee fatefelthistory Change image and share on social
In the summer of 1866, as Leo Tolstoy prepared for his serialized novel 'War and Peace' to be published as a single volume, he wrote to illustrator Mikhail Bashilov, hoping to commission drawings for the new edition of the novel, which he referred to by its original title,1805. Alexander Chee bashilovcommissiondrawing share on social
I had been in a professional boys' choir, and as a boy soprano, you're aware that your voice has an expiration date. Alexander Chee awareboychoir Change image and share on social
Lilliet Berne, La Generale, newly returned to Paris after a year spent away, the Falcon soprano whose voice was so delicate it was rumored she endangered it even by speaking, her silences as famous as her performances. Alexander Chee bernedelicateendanger share on social
