TT#4: Thirteen Things about Dorothy Parker I've always enjoyed reading about Dorothy Parker. I use Wikipedia's words: "she was an American writer, poet, critic, and a fixture of 1920s literary society known for her acerbic wit and low opinion of romantic relationships. She became a member of the famous Algonquin Round Table, which was a celebrated group of New York City writers, critics, actors and wits. Gathering initially as part of a practical joke, members of "The Vicious Circle," as they dubbed themselves, gathered for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 until roughly 1929. At these luncheons they engaged in wisecracks, wordplay and witticisms that, through the newspaper columns of Round Table members, were disseminated across the country". I remember that on my first trip to NYC, in the early eighties, I wanted to have drinks at the Algonquin Hotel. The staff there showed me the space where the group had gathered---and I could only imagine the fun and laughter that emanated those many years ago. In the quotes and writings below, I have not included the attributions, only contextual explanations. "She ran the whole gamut of the emotions from A to B." (once said about Katherine Hepburn's performance in a Broadway play). "How could they tell?" (on being told about President Calvin Coolidge's death) "All I need is room enough to lay a hat and a few friends". "If all the young ladies who attended the Yale promenade were laid end to end, no one would be the least surprised". "That woman speaks 18 languages and can’t say No in any of them." "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force". (written in a book review) "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses". "You can't teach an old dogma new tricks". "And she had It. It, hell; she had Those." On Experience: Some men tear your heart in two, Some men flirt and flatter, Some men never look at you, And that clears up the matter. (her poem) Résumé: Razors pain you; Rivers are damp; Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. (her poem) "She must have done it sliding down a barrister". (On hearing an actress had broken her leg) And-----my personal favorite: "You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think". (On being asked at a game show to use the word horticulture in a sentence) Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants