I Always Knew

Barbara Chase-Riboud transforms decades of personal correspondence into an extraordinary memoir that chronicles her journey from Yale art student to internationally renowned artist and writer. Through intimate letters written to her beloved mother between 1957 and 1991, Chase-Riboud reveals her bold adventures across continents and her encounters with cultural luminaries from Salvador Dalí to Toni Morrison. The memoir captures both her artistic awakening and the profound mother-daughter bond that sustained her through years of creative exploration and personal discovery while living at the heart of artistic and political circles worldwide.

Bahni Turpin's masterful narration brings remarkable warmth and authenticity to this deeply personal story. Her voice captures the evolving emotional registers of the letters, from youthful enthusiasm to mature reflection, while maintaining the intimate conversational tone that makes listeners feel they're overhearing private family correspondence. Turpin's nuanced performance highlights the memoir's blend of humor, vulnerability, and fierce ambition, creating an immersive experience that honors both the complexity of Chase-Riboud's remarkable life and the enduring power of maternal love that anchors these revelatory pages.