American writer, Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) was an international celebrity in her day. She was an important contributor to American literature, influencing other writers such as Ernest Hemingway.

Gertrude Stein was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, the youngest of 5 children. When Gertrude was young, the family travelled to Europe – both parents were of German Jewish heritage – with Gertrude spending much time in Austria and France before returning to America in 1979.

Gertrude Stein’s mother died in 1888 and her father in 1892. Gertrude, plus a brother & sister, moved from California to Baltimore to live with a maternal aunt.

In 1893, Stein enrolled at the Harvard Annex (the precursor to Radcliffe College), following that with study at Johns Hopkin. She left Johns Hopkins to travel to Europe with her brother, Leo, in 1902.

Alice B. Toklas became Stein’s lifelong companion from 1907 and with Alice’s encouragement, Stein experimented more with her writing. Her small readership increased significantly after she published The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas in 1933.