"Elena Dimitrievna Diakonova, the female companion and inspiration of extraordinary artists such as Paul Éluard, Max Ernst and Salvador Dalí, is one of the most controversial and fascinating figure of the century. She aroused admiration and scandal feelings. On the one hand, she embodies the sensual woman, able to live a free, passionate and stormy sexuality all through her life, without never feeling sorry or regretting anything. On the other hand, the woman who lives for the love of her men, who fulfilled herself becoming their muse, their source of inspiration, their secret driving force instead of fulfilling herself as did her friend Marina Tsvetaieva. Gala thus embodies the heroin and the anti-heroin of feminism". (Silvia Munt)