Gertrude Stein

Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas shared one of the most iconic relationships in American literary history. Their romance began in 1907, shortly after Toklas arrived in Paris. Together, they hosted renowned literary gatherings attended by luminaries such as Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso. By 1909, they had set up a shared household. The pair journeyed across the globe during the 1920s and 1930s, enjoying their shared success.

However, the onset of World War II forced them to retreat to a house in the French mountains. Their bond remained unbroken until Toklas passed away in 1946. Though Toklas willed most of her assets to Stein, their union went unrecognized by French law, leading to financial hardships for Stein in her later years.