As certain as death and taxes, when you’ve fenced for a while you are destined to see how poorly choreographed most scenes actually are. It’s not, however, the epic moves where the characters do backflips and impossible stunts that irk fencers the most, but the little details.

Holly Buechel

I had been curious about what was behind the door of No. 6 Rue Gît-le-Cœur in Saint Germain for quite a while before I decided to Google it, half expecting to be disappointed by news that it no longer existed. To my surprise, a kind voice picked up at the other end of the telephone line. “Yes of course, come by anytime between 5pm and 9pm, except on Sunday… you’re most welcome“. If you want to discover the secrets of Paris, sometimes, it never hurts just to ask.

David Treuer on learning to fence with Maître Michel Sebastiani and learning to write with Toni Morrison.