Becoming Duchess Goldblatt

January 23, 2021 12:08 PM - by Anonymous

"Part memoir and part joyful romp through the fields of imagination, the story behind a beloved pseudonymous Twitter account reveals how a writer deep in grief rebuilt a life worth living. Becoming Duchess Goldblatt is two stories: that of the reclusive real-life writer who created a fictional character out of loneliness and thin air, and that of the magical Duchess Goldblatt herself, a bright light in the darkness of social media." Real But Also Not Real: An Excerpt From Becoming Duchess Goldblatt

Duchess Goldblatt in brief conversation with Betsy Wieseman (Curator, Northern European Paintings) of the National Gallery of Art, which holds the inspiration for the Duchess's avatar, Frans Hals’s Portrait of an Elderly Lady.

Soundtrack: Lyle Lovett, "If I Had a Boat"

posted by MonkeyToes (2 comments total)

What struck me most about this book is its deep humility: the author is a regular person who was in deep personal and professional grief, and decided to try reaching out on Twitter. To speak into the void, not knowing whether anyone would respond. And she's still speaking with kindness and wit and grace. Actively choosing it, every day. I liked the way she talked about what this experience has taught her; it's active reflection about the process, and downplays her success. I'm not a memoir reader, for the most part, but am glad that I made an exception for Becoming Duchess Goldblatt. It's a smart and candid answer to the question "Who do you think you are?"
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:45 PM on January 23, 2021 [2 favorites]

This looks delightful, thanks for posting! I am a memoir reader and I can also see myself succumbing to the temptation of becoming a Duchess imitator. There are worse things to aspire to.
posted by winesong at 11:31 AM on January 24, 2021