Parker: Selected Stories

By: Dorothy Parker

Narrated by: Elaine Stritch

Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Dorothy Parker's quips and light verse have embedded themselves in the American literary landscape, but it was her prose that proved her star and demonstrated her talent as extending far beyond her time. In her fiction, she not only brought to life the urban milieu that was her bailiwick, but lay bare the uncertainties of ordinary people living ordinary lives, all told in her unflinching and deeply personal voice.

In these selected stories, read for you by Elaine Stritch, we have the chance to draw upon her insight into the social and emotional realities of human nature. The following stories are featured in this audiobook collection:   

• "Big Blonde"
• "Too Bad"
• "The Song of the Shirt"
• "Mr. Durant"
• "From the Diary of a New York Lady"
• "The Standard of Living"
• "The Garter"

©1924, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1941 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. These stories are selected from Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker, edited by Colleen Breese (Penguin Books, 1993). “Too Bad” first appeared in Smart Set; “Mr. Durant” in American Mercury; and “Big Blonde” in The Bookman. The other stories were first published in The New Yorker. (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"There have been other recordings of Parker's stories, several very good. But this is a particularly happy pairing of subject and reader. Stritch's famous whiskey tenor does the stories - with their glossy exteriors and yearning hearts - justice. Sympathy is always lurking in her voice, especially for Parker's female characters, but you can't stop and wallow; there's the next quip to get to, the next coping mechanism. A life in musical comedy brings timing and acidity to the brittle society antics of "Too Bad" or "The Standard of Living". And there is a poignancy, too, to the deep and rueful knowledge of the ravages of alcohol laid so bare in "Big Blonde". In case you're worried Stritch's personality overpowers Parker’s material, don't be; she's too good an actor for that." (The New York Times Book Review) 

Witty, acerbic fun

This selection of Dorothy Parker's stories her deep humanity as well as her wit and playfulness. Elaine Stritch is the perfect narrator to capture the New York flavor of Parker's prose.

been a fan since high school

It was fun to find something on audible. I hope they keep coming. I love this era of N.Y. society.

Too short!

Great overall, but over too soon. Elaine Stritch is perfect for reading these - and Dorothy Parker is wonderful. Just wish there was more here for the money.

So Great!

I really enjoyed how real each character is, her writing style is beautiful. I enjoyed each story.

Old stories about a long ago time

The narrator is fabulous which is why I got the book, but these hard luck stories about women are hard to relate to as they take place in a culture long gone.

Everyone should have some familiarity with Dorothy Parker’s writings.

I had difficulty reviewing this book along the same lines that I had difficulty reviewing Leo Tolstoy’s short stories. I enjoyed the writing more than Tolstoy’s, but it’s difficult to enjoy the stories from today’s lens of increased equality. It definitely gives more of a true view of the 1920’s versus The Great Gatsby, for instance. I chose this audiobook because David Sedaris narrates, and he does a great job. It helps that he has a true Southern accent that isn’t too highbrow. Nonetheless, the stories are women-centric, and I felt a female narrator would have been more appropriate.

irritating narrator!

slow and boring presentation. she sounds like the old lady that she is. monotone and droning.

Parker never disappoints

Absolutely loved the reading from Elaine Stritch. I actually purchased this audible because she read it. So wonderful to listen to short stories that I read over and over but this time through a voice that feels like it could actually be Dorthy's.

Darkly Funny

I really like Dorothy Parker, but there are more than one Parker style and this is her darker humor.
I found all the stories funny, but also more than a bit sad.

The writing is excellent but these are not my favorite stories.

I would not have guessed that the narrator would work well with Parker's style but it worked excellently with this material.

An American Chronicler, Our Voice

Honest, humorous Americana. Our citified, post war Twain. Tells us as we are, and how we can still tolerate ourselves.