Dorothy Parker in Hollywood

By: Gail Crowther

Narrated by: Samantha Desz

An expansive and illuminating study of legendary writer Dorothy Parker’s life and legacy in Hollywood from the author of the “fascinating” (Town & Country) Three Martini Afternoons at the Ritz.

The glamorous extravagances and devastating lows of her time in Hollywood are revealed as never before in this fresh new biography of Dorothy Parker—from leaving New York City to work on numerous classic screenplays such as the 1937 A Star Is Born to the devastation of alcoholism, a miscarriage, and her husband’s suicide. Parker’s involvement with anti-fascist and anti-racist groups, which led to her ultimate blacklisting, and her early work in the civil rights movement that inspired her to leave her entire estate to the NAACP are also explored as never before.

Just as she did with her “deliriously fast-paced and erudite” (Library Journal) dual biography of Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, Gail Crowther brings Parker back to life in all her wit, grit, and brilliance.

©2024 Gail Crowther (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

You Might as Well Listen

As a lifelong Dottie fan, there was some stuff I never knew and learned about from the book. But a big chunk of the beginning and end is lifted from Wyatt Cooper's Esquire article, which I read first through a link in the NY Times review of DP in Hollywood. The thing that threw me at first was the narration, as every bon mot from Dottie was delivered like Mae West or Christine Baranski, which I know wasn't the case with Dottie's speaking voice. The narrator toned it down after a while, but the producers should have chosen someone with a lighter, higher, and less nasal delivery. Altogether petty good, could have used a pdf picture download as well.

Very interesting!

The book is really informative. Lots of fun to learn more Dorothy Parker’s life, and Hollywood through the years.
I definitely recommend.
Had to get used to narrator’s style. She mispronounced the names of famous people like Somerset Maugham, Dashiell Hammett, Nina Foch, etc. I wonder who audits audible recordings. Also, she doesn’t seem to know the difference between exacerbate and exasperate.