Dorothy Parker’s Wit Shines in New Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets

Step right up, cats and kittens, and dig this irresistible hardcover jam session of verse from the Queen of the Jazz Age Wit—Dorothy Parker. This ain’t just poetry; it’s a razor-sharp riff on life, love, and the grand cosmic joke, spun in Parker’s signature style—equal parts champagne sparkle and cigarette smoke.

Dorothy Parker was the original cool cat of The New Yorker set, strutting onto the scene when the magazine was still wet behind the ears a hundred years ago. Long before “hipster” had a name, she was already living the part—razor-sharp, effortlessly witty, and always a step ahead of the crowd. While many of her contemporaries have faded into literary obscurity, their words gathering dust like forgotten relics, Parker remains as fresh, biting, and relevant as ever.

A legend of the literary speakeasy, Parker cut her teeth at Vanity Fair, Life, and The New Yorker, slinging quips with the best of ’em. Her debut collection, Enough Rope (1926), snapped up readers like a hot tune on the radio, and she kept the hits coming with Sunset Gun (1928).

Now, let’s talk about the new Everyman’s Library’s Pocket Poets series. And this latest Dorothy Parker edition? Oh, it’s the pièce de résistance. It doesn’t just sit on your shelf; it owns it, gleaming like a diamond in a sea of dog-eared paperbacks. Consider this your invitation to fall head over heels for a collection that’s as sharp, sophisticated, and irresistibly cool as Parker herself. Cheers to that. If books were a cocktail party, these little hardcovers would be the effortlessly chic guests who show up in perfectly tailored tuxedos and vintage Chanel. They’re the crown jewels of any bookshelf—compact, elegant, and timeless, like the literary equivalent of a little black dress that never goes out of style.

Between these covers, Dorothy Parker reigns supreme—her words cutting with the razor-sharp precision of a stiletto, yet landing as smoothly as a perfectly shaken martini. She’s the literary equivalent of a magician who can make you laugh while pulling a dagger from your chest. Whether she’s skewering society with her biting wit or breaking your heart with a wink, her gallows humor is a masterclass in balance: lethal yet velvety, like cracking a joke at a funeral and somehow getting away with it. Parker doesn’t just write; she performs a high-wire act, and you’re left applauding even as you teeter on the edge of tears.

Dressed to the nines in Everyman’s Library’s signature Pocket Poets style, this snazzy hardcover comes bound in full cloth, with acid-free cream-colored paper, decorative endpapers, a silk ribbon marker, and two-color foil stamping. Top it off with a European-style half-round spine and a full-color illustrated jacket, and you’ve got yourself one stylish little volume that’s as timeless as Parker’s wit.

I’m smitten with Everyman’s Library’s signature Pocket Poets series—they’re the crown jewels of my collection, each one a perfectly crafted little treasure. This latest edition of Dorothy Parker is no exception—it’s bound to dazzle in any poetry lover’s library, catching the light like a gem among well-loved pages. Whether you’re a longtime devotee or a newcomer to the series, this one’s a must-have, ready to take its place as a cherished classic on your shelf.