Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Natalie Clifford Barney

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Natalie Clifford Barney[edit]

Self-nom. A minor writer who hosted a major literary salon in Paris and had, in my opinion anyway, a fascinating life. The article has been through a Wikiproject Biography Peer Review. Passed GA recently, and the GA reviewer suggested taking it to FAC. —Celithemis 13:23, 18 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

  • Comment I don't currently have the time to read through and critique the entire article, but my early impressions are that it is quite excellent. However, a couple of issues: first, while there are oodles of references, the lead has only one reference; even if these points are sourced later in the article, there should still be footnotes in a lead which makes many claims (such as that most of the important writers on Earth met at her home). Second, there are about a dozen redlinks, and some redlinks occur multiple times; if someone is important enough to link to (especially if they're notable enough to link to twice), either write a stub about them (assuming they pass WP:BIO) or delink them. Those concerns aside, I could very well support this candidate once I can undertake a more thorough reading of the article. -- Kicking222 14:42, 18 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Somewhere I had picked up the idea that footnotes in the lead were to be avoided. Oh well, live and learn. I've now added citations for the bits that amount to claims of importance, i.e., her roles in novels and the people who went to her salon. Does that cover it? I can add citations for anything that needs them; I'm just trying to avoid creating a thicket of repeated footnotes in the lead.
All red links are now stubbed or removed as well. —Celithemis 04:48, 19 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Support The whole article looks great. Awesome job! -- Kicking222 14:12, 19 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support Bravo! What a marvelous article. I agree with Kicking's recommendations about the red links, but it seems that everything else in quite in order. Thank you for introducing this fascinating person to me! *Exeunt* Ganymead | Dialogue? 14:53, 18 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support I support per Kicking222 and Ganymead, as long as the red links are fixed. Lithpiperpilot 21:29, 18 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support—what a fascinating lady. But let's be true to her and make the writing more stylish.
    • "over 60 years"—"more than" is classier.
    • There's a redundant "also" in the second para.
    • "Rather haphazard education"—The first word adds nothing and should be removed. Same for "in order to", which should be "to".
    • "reprinted over 70 times"—"more than", and don't we know exactly how many?
    • "Their romantic relationship was also a creative exchange that inspired both of them to write, Barney providing a feminist theoretical framework that Vivien explored in her poetry." Removing the "also" will probably make it stronger—up to your judgement. The second part, after the comma, is ungrammatical and awkward. Try splitting it with a semicolon— ; Barney provided ...

There'll be no shortage of interested WPians who can polish this with fresh eyes. Good work already. Tony 02:24, 21 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]