Summary of The Moth Podcast Episode: "Joan Juliet Buck: The Ghost of the Rue Jacob"

Introduction

In this captivating episode of The Moth, Joan Juliet Buck recounts her eerie and transformative experience while serving as the editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue. Recorded live at The Moth's main stage during a night themed "Dial M for Moth: Thriller Stories," Buck weaves a tale that intertwines professional ambition with supernatural intrigue.

Background: Transition to Paris

Joan Juliet Buck begins her story by describing her unique position as an American passing for French in Paris—a rarity that brings both advantages and uncertainties.

Joan Juliet Buck [02:52]: "I'm an American who passes for a French person, this makes me really rare. It also means I don't know if I'm American or French."

Fifteen years prior, Buck was offered the unprecedented role of editing a French publication, marking her transition from a non-office environment to the structured world of magazine leadership. This move required her to adapt swiftly, balancing her demanding 20-hour workdays with the challenge of finding an appropriate residence befitting her new status.

The Perfect Apartment on Rue Jacob

Buck narrates her relentless search for the ideal apartment on Rue Jacob, a picturesque street on the Left Bank of Paris known for its antique shops and timeless charm. After numerous disappointments, she discovers a flawless apartment—an 18-foot cubed living room with exquisite 18th-century moldings, a study, and a bedroom—all enveloped in historical elegance.

Joan Juliet Buck [04:20]: "There was a living room, 18ft wide, 18ft long and 18ft high. A perfect cube."

The apartment was an exceptional find, costing only slightly more than her previous modest Upper East Side residence. However, upon signing the lease, Buck encounters an unusual stipulation from the landlords:

Joan Juliet Buck [05:10]: "You must hereby attest that we have informed you on this day that the apartment situated at 11 Rue Jacob moves at night."

This cryptic clause hints at the supernatural elements that would soon unfold in her new home.

Initial Signs of Haunting

As Buck settles into her role and her new apartment, the first unsettling signs emerge. Despite her skepticism, she experiences unexplained occurrences, such as feeling a presence beside her bed during the night.

Joan Juliet Buck [07:15]: "There is a pull on the bedclothes on my left, as if somebody's lying on the covers next to me."

Determined to rationalize these events, Buck consults the local church but is met with derision rather than assistance. Undeterred yet increasingly lonely, she continues her demanding work schedule, occasionally confiding in trusted friends.

Escalation of Paranormal Activity

The disturbances escalate when Buck experiences a total power outage on a chilly June morning. Seeking refuge, she invites Italian friends over, only to confront the physical evidence of her haunting in the form of an indentation on her bed where a presence once lay.

Joan Juliet Buck [10:45]: "There on the bed, I see the indentation of a body lying there."

Unsure of how to proceed and grappling with her credibility, Buck turns to alternative remedies, including sage cleansing, which inexplicably intensifies the supernatural manifestations.

Confrontation and Realization

Seeking professional help, Buck engages a Tibetan acupuncturist, hoping for a solution. However, the situation worsens when her father becomes a victim of the haunting, being violently thrown down the stairs by an unseen force.

Joan Juliet Buck [14:30]: "He thinks the apartment's very beautiful... and suddenly he's thrown there down the stairs."

Realizing the severity of the haunting, Buck decides to leave the Left Bank, relocating to a more ordinary apartment on the Right Bank. Despite her success in her career and personal life post-move, the memory of the haunted Rue Jacob apartment lingers.

Conclusion: Lingering Spirits

Buck occasionally glances back at her former residence, observing renovations funded by notable figures like Karl Lagerfeld. Her old neighborhood remains a place of unresolved mystery, as confirmed by a young designer who reveals that the apartment continues to be haunted.

Joan Juliet Buck [17:20]: "He says, oh honey, it's so haunted."

Reflection

Joan Juliet Buck's story is a compelling blend of ambition, isolation, and the supernatural. Her journey underscores the often unseen costs of professional success and the lingering presence of past experiences. Through her vivid storytelling, Buck invites listeners to contemplate the thin veil between the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Notable Quotes

• Joan Juliet Buck [02:52]: "I'm an American who passes for a French person, this makes me really rare."
• Joan Juliet Buck [04:20]: "There was a living room, 18ft wide, 18ft long and 18ft high. A perfect cube."
• Joan Juliet Buck [07:15]: "There is a pull on the bedclothes on my left, as if somebody's lying on the covers next to me."
• Joan Juliet Buck [10:45]: "There on the bed, I see the indentation of a body lying there."
• Joan Juliet Buck [14:30]: "He thinks the apartment's very beautiful... and suddenly he's thrown there down the stairs."
• Joan Juliet Buck [17:20]: "He says, oh honey, it's so haunted."

Conclusion

Joan Juliet Buck's haunting experience on Rue Jacob serves as a poignant reminder of the unseen forces that can influence our lives. Her story, rich with emotional depth and suspense, exemplifies The Moth's mission to share authentic, impactful personal narratives.