One of Babette’s greatest joys, perhaps second to her love for music, was viewing films. As I recounted in my book, we often watched them together after dinner, followed by lengthy philosophical discussions. One of my favorite memories is sitting … Continue reading
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After waking up to a delicious breakfast of eggs, bread and cheese in Pierre’s farmhouse, our generous host agreed to drive us into Bazas on his way to work. Eric and I piled into his little white van and bounced … Continue reading
On November 5th, 2015, I arrived in France to begin a weeklong trip researching Babette’s story. This was a journey I’d anticipated ever since my professor began telling me tales about her childhood, over fifteen years before. But I couldn’t … Continue reading
With the increasing gentrification of Portland, many locations that featured prominently in my book are no more. Fiddleheads, the charming restaurant near SE Milwaukie and Bybee where we once enjoyed late desserts and discussed Alfred Hitchcock has gone out of … Continue reading
If Babette’s story contains an apocrypha; as in, additional content from unknown or dubious sources, one particular text fits that description: A sheaf of 54 typewritten papers in an unlabeled blue binder that turned up amidst old teaching supplies after … Continue reading
Many months ago I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FBI for information concerning Babette– aka Albert J. Ellsworth, Robert F. Brown or Elizabeth Ellsworth. Yesterday, I received a PDF on disc in the mail along with … Continue reading
One of the major mysterious themes in my professor’s life was revealed after I moved into her pantry and noticed several different names she received mail under. Over time, I discovered more of these pseudonyms and tried to keep her … Continue reading
Babette’s favorite living pianist was the American artist Awadagin Pratt. We traveled together to see him perform in Yakima in 1999, where my professor memorably led a standing ovation by shouting at the audience “Are you dead?” Next came an … Continue reading
On February 5th, the French restaurant La Vie de Boheme in Portland played host to a party celebrating Babette’s first year of publication and winning the 2014 Rainbow Awards. Organized by book promoter, Lisa Kendall, we filled the backroom with … Continue reading
It’s a whole year since Babette: The Many Lives, Two Deaths and Double Kidnapping of Dr. Ellsworth came out and what a time this has been. From the release party at the Star Theater to any number of readings, tours in … Continue reading