Charlie Scheips speaks on Elsie de Wolfe at Villa Terrace

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Famed interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe was a pioneer in the industry, but it was her prominent social connections and well-respected reputation as an actress that ultimately made her famous. In between the World Wars, de Wolfe played host to numerous celebrities, aristocrats and politicians in her Paris villa, where she held unforgettable “Circus Balls.” Elsie was 81 years old when she hosted her final Ball, and by that time, she had spent decades in the company of the world’s wealthiest and most privileged citizens.

The glamour and decadence of her high-society lifestyle is beautifully captured in Charlie Scheips’ book Elsie de Wolfe’s Paris: Frivolity Before the Storm. Highlighted by close to 200 photographic images, de Wolfe’s life and legacy come alive to tell the intriguing story of a bygone era that ended with the onset of World War II. Filled with detailed historical research, Elsie de Wolfe’s Paris is a compelling social history of Parisian high society.

Scheips is a curator and cultural historian. He will appear at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum on Thursday, April 30. A reception will be held at 5 p.m., followed by a presentation and book signing at 6 p.m. Admission is $20. This event is co-sponsored by Boswell Book Co.

Book Happening

Best of the UWM and Marquette Undergraduate Writing Programs

7 p.m., May 1

Boswell Book Co.

2559 N. Downer Ave.

Four star students from each university, chosen via a manuscript competition, will read 10-minute selections of their writing. The evening includes fiction and poetry from UW-Milwaukee students Valerie Vinyard, Amber Scarborough, Matthew Farr and Ashanti Anderson, and Marquette students Krystin Kantenwein, Michael Welch, Sarah Smithy and Alexandra Whittaker. This event celebrating Milwaukee’s emerging literary talent is free and open to the public.