Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943)

A perfect book. Woollcott's letters are clever, witty, gossipy, erudite, comradely, and humane. And so much more. He knew a lot of prominent people in the arts - and in other fields, as well. He loved America (albeit a somewhat WASP America) and it shines through. A nice antidote to the tragic mess the U.S. is currently in. The introduction is perfectly pitched to give the reader the information they need to follow along with events in his life. The editors mention that, because the show more contributions were solicited, few of the selection show even a hint of Woollcott's acerbic side; for which he was noted in both correspondence and conversation. He could be snarky. show less

A collection of essays by a (perhaps literally) outsize personality, covering a number of different topics, including the theatre, murders and travel. All of the essays are fairly short, but some of them are quite punchy. The murder episodes in particular are what bring the average of the essays up. Woollcott shamelessly name-drops, but in his defence, he did know a lot of people. One or two of the lines in the essays, especially his one on Dorothy Parker, have stood the test of time. show more Generally recommended, though you may skip through a few essays here or there. show less

This is a good survey of the literary efforts of the American Entertainment personality of the mid-twentieth century. He often had a radio book review show, and was widely seen as an irascible intellectual. He did some play writing, had small film and Broadway roles, and was a familiar figure in the New Yorker Magazine and at the Algonquin round Table. His epigrams were often attributed to others, but were penetrating. "Los Angeles is seven neighbourhoods in search of a city." "His huff show more having arrived, he left in it!" "Everything I like to do is either illegal, Immoral, or fattening." being the best known. Thus the book is worth the reading. Warning. I read this book when I was eighteen; it has probably warped my prose style ever since. show less

Alexander Woollcott (1887-1043) served as a critic and self-described "incorrigible journalist" [33] for the New Yorker. He accepted good-humoredly the express acknowledgment of being the "inspiration" for the main character in The Man Who Came To Dinner" by GS Kaufman and Moss Hart, and the witty columnist in "Laura" obsessed with a beautiful, and possibly dead, woman.

Woollcott's commentary and reviews are reprinted in this collection. They are filled with seasoned erudition, and pesky show more private jokes, with which he assumes intimacy by sharing -- you are familiar with his ham painting? [11] Enjoy dilapidated copies of Chatterbox? [21]

Woollcott does not tell, he is too diverting, nor does he pull us into, good stories -- most of them are trivial -- a neighbor finds the very book she treasured as a child in a bookstore, in Paris. But the woman is Anne Parrish, "the one who wrote...the maliciously surgical All Kneeling, and that uncomfortably penetrating and richly entertaining novel called Loads of Love." [20] And so, he tells more than mere gossip, brings discernment to a head, and pillories what is taken for taste.

Woollcott's reviews of the Marx brothers are credited with their renaissance. However, the essay included here -- "My Friend Harpo" -- he describes Harpo as "an illiterate but golden-hearted clown" [37] really is about a poodle.

It should also be noted that Woollcott was often the first to promote gifted writers. "Lest we Forget" [279]is his program notes on JOURNEY'S END, "an English war play" written by an insurance adjustor for a rowing club about WWI. "I think that not in our time, by song or gesture or word or deed, has any Englishman so eloquently spoken the cause of his tribe...no braided mission, no silk-hatted plenipotentiary sent out by England since the war began, has so fairly represented her--so fairly told us the best that she has and is."[281] He revived this play which is still playing.

Woollcot's writing is ultimately well-tempered, amusing and infectious. He did apparently serve in the military, his muster described as "one who...had doggedly risen by sheer merit to the rank of sergeant". [328] show less