Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943)

As You Were is an anthology of American literature edited by Alexander Woolcott. It includes fiction, poetry and non-fiction essays. It was prepared by Viking Press for members of the Armed Forces and the Merchant Marine in 1943. My copy was presented to my father by my grandmother, his future mother-in-law, on his 21st birthday July 3, 1943. I have read it completely once and go back parts, especially the poetry often. I am always struck by Alan Seeger's I Have a Rendezvous with Death and Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight by Vachel Lindsay.… (lisätietoja)

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 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.… (lisätietoja)

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. Generally recommended, though you may skip through a few essays here or there.… (lisätietoja)

An interesting selection by Alexander Woollcott of reading material for the Armed Forces during WWII. The selections range from lesser-known short stories by authors such as Hemingway, O. Henry and Bret Harte; poetry offerings from Longfellow, Whitman, Poe, etc.; and an American Fact category with The Declaration of Independence, A Letter Fom Franklin to Washington, The Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln, etc. At a time when many servicemen were feverishly passing around copies of Forever Amber, this is perhaps a selection that reveals much about what Mr. Woollcott felt the sevicemen should read rather than what he actually wanted to read.… (lisätietoja)