I was only vaguely familiar with Dorothy Parker as a personality from the past. Quotes of hers would regularly pop up in my Facebook feed-- witticisms that always seemed to hit home with a sarcasm that sparkled. Along came the new biography, "Dorothy Parker in Hollywood," and I grabbed the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity.
What a fascinating woman. She was an award-winning writer of short stories, poetry, plays, and screenplays-- including the original "A Star is Born" script. She was socially very active to the point of being trailed by the FBI and blacklisted by the studios. This was an era where she was a trailblazer for women writers. Counted among her social circle were Scott Fitzgerald, Lillian Hellman, Dashiell Hammet, Orson Welles, Fredric March, and Ernest Hemingway. At her death she left her estate to Martin Luther King and, later, the NAACP.
On the flip side, many aspects of her life were a trainwreck. She was a chronic alcoholic. A reputation flourished as someone who would often cruelly backstab people the moment they left the room. She claimed to hate Hollywood, drawn only by the financial benefits it offered. Suicide was attempted a number of times, whether or not these were considered serious by her friends.
There are self-admitted holes in this profile. The author frequently points out huge blank spots in time, where nothing is known and where there is no documentation. There are no journals or revelatory correspondences unearthed to illuminate an insight into the woman behind the public persona. 1951 through 1961 is a black hole, a substantial gap for a biography of a woman on a downward spiral.
I appreciate the intriguing Dorothy Parker presented here. There just seems to be more.
She:
"If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me."
"If you want to know what God thinks about money, just look at the people He gives it to."
"Honesty means nothing until you are tested under circumstances where you are sure you could get away with dishonesty."
"If all the young ladies who attended the Yale promenade dance were laid end to end, no one would be the least surprised."
In conclusion, maybe I should read more Dorothy Parker and less about her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a fascinating woman. She was an award-winning writer of short stories, poetry, plays, and screenplays-- including the original "A Star is Born" script. She was socially very active to the point of being trailed by the FBI and blacklisted by the studios. This was an era where she was a trailblazer for women writers. Counted among her social circle were Scott Fitzgerald, Lillian Hellman, Dashiell Hammet, Orson Welles, Fredric March, and Ernest Hemingway. At her death she left her estate to Martin Luther King and, later, the NAACP.
On the flip side, many aspects of her life were a trainwreck. She was a chronic alcoholic. A reputation flourished as someone who would often cruelly backstab people the moment they left the room. She claimed to hate Hollywood, drawn only by the financial benefits it offered. Suicide was attempted a number of times, whether or not these were considered serious by her friends.
There are self-admitted holes in this profile. The author frequently points out huge blank spots in time, where nothing is known and where there is no documentation. There are no journals or revelatory correspondences unearthed to illuminate an insight into the woman behind the public persona. 1951 through 1961 is a black hole, a substantial gap for a biography of a woman on a downward spiral.
I appreciate the intriguing Dorothy Parker presented here. There just seems to be more.
She:
"If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me."
"If you want to know what God thinks about money, just look at the people He gives it to."
"Honesty means nothing until you are tested under circumstances where you are sure you could get away with dishonesty."
"If all the young ladies who attended the Yale promenade dance were laid end to end, no one would be the least surprised."
In conclusion, maybe I should read more Dorothy Parker and less about her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
