Writer's Corner

Dorothy Parker

Born in West End, NJ 1893, Dorothy Parker was not respected as a serious author by literary critics during her lifetime despite her public appeal. She is known for her involvement with the Algonquin Round table, a daily gathering of New York writers and performers. She started her career as a editorialist for Vogue Magazine and later worked for the New Yorker as a reviewer of plays, poetry, and fiction. In the 1930's, Parker was affiliated with both the socialist and the fascist movements in America and Europe respectively. This involvement was tracked and document by the FBI. She later moved to Hollywood and proceeded to contribute to 39 movie scripts. When WWII broke out Parker wanted to be a correspondent, but her FBI documented pro-communist views lead to the denial of her passport. During this time she continued to write and publish novels, plays and poetry.

Parker has long been regarded as a period writer, a humorist, etc, but the public appeal is beginning to sway the literary criticism of the work. Her work is filled with humor and abstract wit that can hardly be deemed simple or not literary. Regardless of her professional career or political affiliations, her writing should stand on a different level, and she should be remembered as a brilliant writer.

"A Telephone Call" by Dorothy Parker

To read 193 poems by Dorothy Parker click here. To hear Parker read several of her poems go here.