Hotel Bemelmans

Ludwig Bemelmans lived an incredibly full life. Writer of children's books (the Madelaine series), author of novels, painter of murals, waiter, bon vivant,restaurant owner, screen writer, artist, traveller, and apparently a non-stop bringer of joy to all who knew him, he arrived as a teenager from Germany and went to work in what he called the Hotel Splendide in his book Hotel Bemelmans, the actual hotel being the Ritz Carlton... Read Full Review

This was one of the most moving pieces of literature I've read in the last 10 years. The scenes on returning to post-WWI Germany poverty are still sharp in my mind, as is the ending scene in the book, which is a scathing commentary on 1920s high society but which is absolutely appropriate to today's (or any day's) bored, frivolous jet set. After reading this short book I eagerly sought out another adult work by Bemelmans... Read Full Review

You enjoyed "Madeleine" as a child and now you can enjoy some further tales by the author Ludwig Bemelmans that were written for the grown up who still has that child-like love for fantastic illustrations and clever stories. I remember reading in a book all about the author that he was brought up and trained in the hotel industry. He was a bit of a difficult child and his Mother sent him to stay with relatives who were hoteliers... Read Full Review

Ludwig Bemelmans best known today for his successful Madeline children's series, is far too good and important a writer to relegate him to merely Madeline. (though I am very fond of Madeline myself) There is a treasure trove of solid adult writings that have endearing qualities that commit themselves to fond memory. Bemelmans was a bon vivant, gourmet, gourmand, traveller, and more importantly a student of human nature and... Read Full Review