Dorothy Parker - one of the most quoted women in New York
met in the Rose Room of the Algonquin Hotel
they became known as ‘The Algonquin Round Table’
their skill was playing with the language - smart talk - wit -
style
after the war it was bliss to be alive
‘We’d made the world safe for democracy’
there was a strong desire to live life to the fullest
the Round Table was made up of people who admired the work of the
others in the group - they became friends
they quoted each other daily in their columns - consequently they
became celebrities
the written word was paramound in America in the 20’s
there were 19 daily newspapers in New York and another 6 in
Brooklyn
people loved the theatre
entertainment was a big industry - that included reading magazines
etc.
Woolcott specialised in discovering new talent - was a great critic -
a very
witty man - cruel
Dorothy Parker began as a poet - wrote witty verses
at 26 she was hired by Vogue
she was slight, eyes intense, thoughtful, reticent, shy, wore
horn-rimmed
glasses - was the most quoted woman in New York
in 1922 she separated from her husband
she was very romantic - always falling in love with a bum or an
irresponsible, handsome type
always heartbroken
she took a bleak view of life and was very vulnerable
she turned this life view into cynical verses or stories, often about
men
Vanity Fair - employed as drama critic
Life Magazine - wrote ‘Hymns of Hate’
the 20’s brought with them new temptations
women cut their hair and shortened skirts, undid corsets, dancing,
singing the blues - bootleg gin - decade of ‘get rich
quick’
page 2
The New Yorker - Dorothy Parker employed as book reporter in 1927
the Algonquin group bought an island in Vermont
- it was like a summer retreat - people went to have fun and talk
etc.
Open, progressive marriages were fashionable in some circles
feminist movement was strong
keeping maiden names was seen as important
nude bathing was a symbol of the free life
psychoanalysis also became fashionable
By now the Round Table had become famous and were sought after
Success also brought with it the freedom to travel
1926 - the South of France became popular
Gerald and Sara Murphy were celebrated hosts of the era and
entertained the Hemingways and Fitzgeralds along with many other
writers and celebrities
Europe was seductive - the group became more interested in
entertainment and wrote less and less
their position as celebrities began to obstruct their writing
too much entertainment and not enough work
- execution of Sacco and Vanzetti changed the mood of the nation
although they were convicted in 1921 there was a stay of execution
for 6 years
appeals divided the country
Dorothy Parker had strong sense of social justice and paraded on the
streets in protest - she was convinced of their innocence
After their execution she was disillusioned
‘there are things that are not funy and never will be’
- wise cracks and flippancy began to get her down
1929 - The Crash - the party was over