The Algonquin Round Table New York
A Historical Guide
By (author) Kevin C. Fitzpatrick Foreword by Anthony Melchiorri
Publication date:
07 April 2015Length of book:
288 pagesPublisher
Lyons PressISBN-13: 9781493007578
"That is the thing about New York," wrote Dorothy Parker in 1928. "It is always a little more than you had hoped for. Each day, there, is so definitely a new day." Now you can journey back there, in time, to a grand city teeming with hidden bars, luxurious movie palaces, and dazzling skyscrapers. In these places, Dorothy Parker and her cohorts in the Vicious Circle at the infamous Algonquin Round Table sharpened their wit, polished their writing, and captured the energy and elegance of the time. Robert Benchley, Parker’s best friend, became the first managing editor of Vanity Fair before Irving Berlin spotted him onstage in a Vicious Circle revue and helped launch his acting career. Edna Ferber, an occasional member of the group, wrote the Pulitzer-winning bestseller So Big as well as Show Boat and Cimarron. Jane Grant pressed her first husband, Harold Ross, into starting The New Yorker. Neysa McMein, reputedly “rode elephants in circus parades and dashed from her studio to follow passing fire engines.” Dorothy Parker wrote for Vanity Fair and Vogue before ascending the throne as queen of the Round Table, earning everlasting fame (but rather less fortune) for her award-winning short stories and unforgettable poems. Alexander Woollcott, the centerpiece of the group, worked as drama critic for the Times and the World, wrote profiles of his friends for The New Yorker, and lives on today as Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Explore their favorite salons and saloons, their homes and offices (most still standing), while learning about their colorful careers and private lives. Packed with archival photos, drawings, and other images--including never-before-published material--this illustrated historical guide includes current information on all locations. Use it to retrace the footsteps of the Algonquin Round Table, and you’ll discover that the golden age of Gotham still surrounds us.
Praise for A Journey into Dorothy Parker’s New York:
“A Baedeker of Parker’s city.” —New York Times
“Revel in the wealth of material associated with one of New York’s most memorable, talented, and colorful citizens.” —TravelSmart
“A stunning and highly entertaining book.” —Library Journal
“Part biography, part walking tour, Fitzpatrick’s meticulously researched first book is an eye-opening account of the life and times of Dorothy Parker and a paean to Old Gotham.” —Publishers Weekly
Praise for Under the Table:
A Vogue Perfect Gift Book Pick
A Los Angeles Times Best New Book Selection
“Slim but handy” —New York Times
“A charmingly assembled, lovely little package that many people will find an essential addition to their shelves. ... Both informative and useful: it gives nice little histories of each drink and is well organized and very handsomely designed. ... If you’re someone who takes your booze at all seriously, then this is a book you will enjoy tremendously.” —New Haven Review
“Unique ... A delightful blend of hearsay and history, musings and mixology, there’s plenty to satisfy Dorothy’s fans as well as lots of lore to inspire cocktail enthusiasts to become new ones. ... Readers can enjoy drinks and stories from across the country and even around the world. ... Whether you’re a Dorothy Parker devotee or a craft cocktail connoisseur—or, hell, just a lush who loves spouting poetry—be sure to add this book to your must-read pile. Then, consider your holiday gift list solved.”
—Black Heart magazine
“A swell new book ... clever ... There’s only one place to shelve this in a bookstore—right next to the cash register. The holidays are coming; this is a perfect gift book.” —Travalanche
“A Baedeker of Parker’s city.” —New York Times
“Revel in the wealth of material associated with one of New York’s most memorable, talented, and colorful citizens.” —TravelSmart
“A stunning and highly entertaining book.” —Library Journal
“Part biography, part walking tour, Fitzpatrick’s meticulously researched first book is an eye-opening account of the life and times of Dorothy Parker and a paean to Old Gotham.” —Publishers Weekly
Praise for Under the Table:
A Vogue Perfect Gift Book Pick
A Los Angeles Times Best New Book Selection
“Slim but handy” —New York Times
“A charmingly assembled, lovely little package that many people will find an essential addition to their shelves. ... Both informative and useful: it gives nice little histories of each drink and is well organized and very handsomely designed. ... If you’re someone who takes your booze at all seriously, then this is a book you will enjoy tremendously.” —New Haven Review
“Unique ... A delightful blend of hearsay and history, musings and mixology, there’s plenty to satisfy Dorothy’s fans as well as lots of lore to inspire cocktail enthusiasts to become new ones. ... Readers can enjoy drinks and stories from across the country and even around the world. ... Whether you’re a Dorothy Parker devotee or a craft cocktail connoisseur—or, hell, just a lush who loves spouting poetry—be sure to add this book to your must-read pile. Then, consider your holiday gift list solved.”
—Black Heart magazine
“A swell new book ... clever ... There’s only one place to shelve this in a bookstore—right next to the cash register. The holidays are coming; this is a perfect gift book.” —Travalanche