Alice B. Toklas
After the death of Gertrude Stein, Toklas published her own literary memoir, a 1954 book that mixed reminiscences and recipes under the title The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook. The most famous recipe therein (actually contributed by her friend Brion Gysin) was called "Hashish Fudge", a mixture of fruit, nuts, spices, and "cannabis sativa" [sic], or marijuana. Her name was later lent to the range of cannabis concoctions called Alice B. Toklas brownies. The cookbook has not been out of print since it was published. A second cookbook followed in 1958 called "Aromas and Flavors of Past and Present," however Toklas did not approve of it as it had been heavily annotated by Poppy Cannon, an editor from House Beautiful magazine. She also wrote articles for several magazines and newspapers including The New Republic and the New York Times.
In 1963 she published her autobiography, What Is Remembered, which abruptly ends with Stein's death, leaving little doubt that Stein was the love of her lifetime.
Her later years were very difficult because of poor health and financial problems, aggravated by the fact that Stein's heirs took the priceless paintings (some of them Picassos), which had been left to her by Stein.
Toklas became a Roman Catholic convert, and asked the priest attending her at death if she would meet Gertrude in heaven. Toklas died in poverty at the age of 89, and is buried next to Stein in Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France.
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In modern culture
The 1968 Peter Sellers movie I Love You, Alice B. Toklas was named for Toklas' cannabis brownies, which play a significant role in the plot.
Alice B. Toklas is pictured in the Swedish absurdist comedy film Picassos Äventyr (Adventures of Picasso), directed by Tage Danielsson. A running gag is based on word play: Gertrude Stein often silences Alice B. Toklas with the phrase "Alice, be talkless".
Vietnamese American writer Monique Truong developed a marginal character, Toklas' Indochinese cook, in her bestselling novel The Book of Salt, published in 2003. The novel contains substantial citations and relays several scenes taken from the Alice B. Toklas Cook Book.
Bill Richardson's book Waiting for Gertrude makes reference to Toklas and Stein's relationship.
Gertrude Stein is mentioned in La Vie Boheme from the musical Rent.
Toklas is mentioned in the Eric Schwartz song "Hattie and Mattie" on his That's How It's Gonna Be album. The song also appears on Holly Near's album Show Up.
Both Toklas and Stein are referred to in both the stage and film versions of Mame. In a lyric of the song Bosom Buddies, Vera Charles declares: "But sweetie, I'll always be Alice Toklas if you'll be Gertrude Stein."
A chapter of the Stonewall Democrats, an organization within the United States Democratic Party, is named after Toklas.
The Toyes made mention of Toklas in the song "Monster Hash".
Melissa Manchester wrote the song "When Paris Was A Woman" which appears on the album "When I Look Down That Road". The song is from the view point of Alice B. Toklas.
Toklas is mentioned, along with Gertrude Stein, in Tim Curry's 1979 song I Do The Rock.
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References
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