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The Uncollected Dorothy Parker
The Uncollected Dorothy Parker
250 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
About the author
Dorothy Parker
344 books2,080 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
Dorothy Parker was an American writer, poet and critic best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table. Following the breakup of the circle, Parker traveled to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting. Her successes there, including two Academy Award nominations, were curtailed as her involvement in left-wing politics led to a place on the Hollywood blacklist.
Dismissive of her own talents, she deplored her reputation as a "wisecracker." Nevertheless, her literary output and reputation for her sharp wit have endured.
Dorothy Parker was an American writer, poet and critic best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table. Following the breakup of the circle, Parker traveled to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting. Her successes there, including two Academy Award nominations, were curtailed as her involvement in left-wing politics led to a place on the Hollywood blacklist.
Dismissive of her own talents, she deplored her reputation as a "wisecracker." Nevertheless, her literary output and reputation for her sharp wit have endured.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 4, 2019
Silverstein did some good job and put together the autobiography and the work of a very talented individual. I think in the case of Dorothy Parker, it is helpful to know her biography, while reading her work because it acquires a new depth and for me, it was way more understandable. Her life was quite colorful, full of drama and interesting turns - just like her poems. I quite enjoyed Parker's work - she's a good laugh, even though not all of her poems in this work were of equal quality. I prefer her other works though, since not without a reason were their other works included in the books she actually wanted to have it published.
Great thing for fans of Parker but if someone just starts their journey with her, then I would recommend starting from her more known books.
Great thing for fans of Parker but if someone just starts their journey with her, then I would recommend starting from her more known books.
July 28, 2009
Not the Best Place to Find the Whiplash Tongue of Mrs Parker
A Dotty Parker not at her best is still definitely worth a read, but despite some glints and flashes in here, there's a reason it took 'til 2006 to publish this lot.
Though some of the witticisms are classic Parker, and some turns of phrase and observations are great, I realised a lot of these re-trod the same territory or worse: re-trod the same punchline as each other. There were at least five poems full of lush, pastoral beauty, where the final couplet involved "and it's then that I thank God I'm a New Yorker/I have to get back to the city/All this countryside makes me want to vomit." Any one of these poems on their own would have been fine, but reading this collection means you've already heard the killer blow many times before you get to the end of that specific poem.
I found the Hatesongs one of the least appealing sections - not as tightly-written as the Dotty I know and love - and often the subjects of her ire are a little too dated for readers to work up any similar feelings of hatred for (for example) 1930s college boys.
I do feel pretty sorry for any author who has their castoffs published posthumously. Parker didn't particularly want these to go out, which is why she never published them - despite mounting debts in later life.
Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad collection, but it's not what her legacy is made from, either. I'd recommend this one for die-hard fans only. There are better places to start discovering the whiplash tongue of Mrs Parker.
A Dotty Parker not at her best is still definitely worth a read, but despite some glints and flashes in here, there's a reason it took 'til 2006 to publish this lot.
Though some of the witticisms are classic Parker, and some turns of phrase and observations are great, I realised a lot of these re-trod the same territory or worse: re-trod the same punchline as each other. There were at least five poems full of lush, pastoral beauty, where the final couplet involved "and it's then that I thank God I'm a New Yorker/I have to get back to the city/All this countryside makes me want to vomit." Any one of these poems on their own would have been fine, but reading this collection means you've already heard the killer blow many times before you get to the end of that specific poem.
I found the Hatesongs one of the least appealing sections - not as tightly-written as the Dotty I know and love - and often the subjects of her ire are a little too dated for readers to work up any similar feelings of hatred for (for example) 1930s college boys.
I do feel pretty sorry for any author who has their castoffs published posthumously. Parker didn't particularly want these to go out, which is why she never published them - despite mounting debts in later life.
Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad collection, but it's not what her legacy is made from, either. I'd recommend this one for die-hard fans only. There are better places to start discovering the whiplash tongue of Mrs Parker.
May 13, 2012
Absolutely brilliant!
Her poems are so witty yet magical; before I knew it, I had finished half of the book, and that was under 10 minutes!
Each poem has a unique story of its own, which is what I always look for in poetry. I simply must hunt down her Parkers' other works!
Her "Hymns of Hate" tickled me so. If only I could keep this book! But sadly, I have to return it to the Library. Having said that, I might buy it when I have some money to spare! Fingers crossed that will be soon!
Her poems are so witty yet magical; before I knew it, I had finished half of the book, and that was under 10 minutes!
Each poem has a unique story of its own, which is what I always look for in poetry. I simply must hunt down her Parkers' other works!
Her "Hymns of Hate" tickled me so. If only I could keep this book! But sadly, I have to return it to the Library. Having said that, I might buy it when I have some money to spare! Fingers crossed that will be soon!
July 2, 2008
That it 'aint easy being witty, poor Dottie tossed about in her salad days which produced a tart old age, these poems, especially the "Hate Hymns" are great reads if in your mind you want someone who'll just use the right words to lash out at society.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews