Dorothy Parker summary

The Early Years

In Dorothy Parker by Marion Meade, we are introduced to a young, precocious Dorothy Parker, born in 1893, who grew up in a chaotic and unhappy household in New Jersey. Her mother died when she was just a child, and her father, a businessman, remarried a woman Dorothy despised. This tumultuous upbringing would shape her adult life.

Despite her troubled home life, Parker excelled in school, particularly in writing. She attended a finishing school in New York City, where she began her career in the literary world. She worked as a pianist in a dance studio and a writer for Vogue before landing a job at Vanity Fair, where she became a prominent figure in the New York City literary scene.

The Algonquin Round Table

One of the most significant periods in Parker's life was her time at the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers and critics who met for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel. Here, Parker honed her craft, earning a reputation for her quick wit and acerbic humor. She became known for her cutting one-liners, earning her the nickname 'The Wicked Wit of the West.'

During this time, Parker married Edwin Pond Parker II, but their union was troubled from the start. Both were alcoholics, and Parker's increasing success and independence put a strain on their marriage. Her experiences in this period would inform much of her later work, which often explored themes of love, marriage, and disillusionment.

Work and Hollywood

After Vanity Fair, Parker moved to The New Yorker, where she worked as a book reviewer. She also started writing poetry, short stories, and essays, many of which were published in popular magazines. Her work often featured a mix of wit and melancholy, reflecting her complex personality and her experiences.

In the 1930s, Parker moved to Hollywood, where she worked as a screenwriter. Although she found success in this new role, she struggled with the demands of the studio system and the constraints it placed on her creativity. Her time in Hollywood was marked by heavy drinking and several suicide attempts, reflecting her ongoing battle with depression.

Later Life and Legacy

After returning to New York, Parker continued to write, but her output slowed down as her personal struggles intensified. Her marriage to Alan Campbell, a fellow screenwriter, was marked by infidelity and alcoholism, and they divorced and remarried each other twice. Despite her personal turmoil, Parker's work continued to be well-received, and she remained a respected figure in the literary world.

In her later years, Parker became increasingly involved in left-wing politics, supporting causes such as civil rights and opposing McCarthyism. She also struggled with financial difficulties, exacerbated by her gambling and drinking habits. Parker died in 1967, leaving much of her estate to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation.

In Conclusion

Marion Meade's Dorothy Parker presents a detailed and nuanced portrait of a complex and fascinating woman. Parker was a brilliant writer and a trailblazing figure in the male-dominated literary world of the early 20th century. Her legacy lives on through her sharp wit, her incisive writing, and her unapologetic embrace of her own flaws and vulnerabilities.