James Thurber: Writings & Drawings (LOA #90) (Library of America)

Timely delivery of a book in very good condition.

This has the 'Walter Mitty' story, which I never really cared for, but it also has 'The Catbird Seat,' which must be one of the most brilliant bits of bloodthirsty light fiction ever written. And we have most of Jim's most lauded cartoons, and some of 'Fables for Our Time.' Thurber put together several collections of stories and drawings during his lifetime, and for the most part this is better than any.Some of Thurber's well-burnished memoir, 'The Years with Ross,' is also included. Curiously, though, it leaves out the chapter, 'The Secret Life of Harold Winney,' an ill-told true tale that has great parallels with the two light-fiction stories mentioned above. Harold Dow Winney was a Talk of the Town scribe who later became editor Harold Ross's amanuensis and then embezzled at least $70,000 from him before committing suicide in August 1941. Winney was evidently a homosexual being blackmailed; certainly this was the suspicion of the local police and district-attorney's office. The magazine's lawyers tried to suppress that particular angle, and the New York newspapers dropped the Winney story like a hot potato. Years later, Thurber was still participating in the cover-up, describing Winney with sketchy details and withering contempt. This was most ungallant of Thurber, given the inspiration that his late coworker had provided him. Anyway, the mean-spirited chapter on Winney is left out of this volume, and this was probably not for reasons of space.

I just opened the package that came from The Library of America. I am so very impressed. I am reviewing the book, the physical book; if you are new to James Thurber there are plenty of other reviews and I believe you are in for a treat. The book: it is completely immaculate in condition- it came shrink wrapped and I suspect it was so as soon as it came off the press. It also came in a very sturdy paper envelope that would have protected it from all but a bullet. The book is very classic in design, the fabric cover of the hardbound book, the book marker sewn into the binding, the typeface and paper, it’s all just perfect and delivered without a flaw or mar of any kind. Library of America, you made a fan today, and I will look for you in the future. Thank you!

I've always loved James Thurber's take on the world. I first read his books in high school and they made funny sense of life's chaos. Not that he tries to say that things can be normal if I just work hard enough or accept things as they are. Quite the opposite. He calls out absurdities, some occurring in nature but most in nonhelpful bureaucracies, rigid relatives and coworkers, and plan-out crazy people. In fact, crazy people are the well-adjusted ones in his world. This book is a well- edited selection of Thurber's many works. I was so delighted to find the story with my favorite Thurber image - the relative convinced that overhead lights that lacked light bulbs were leaking dangerous airborne electricity and it was ruining her health. I lucked out and that was in the first story I read. My balm to life's chaos is back in my life.

A James Thurber compilation that was edited by Garrison Keillor. Seriously, can you imagine anything more perfect? This book replaced another Thurber publication I owned that was falling apart from frequent use. I also purchased another copy for one of my sons, who was raised on Thurber and Keillor classics. For new Thurber readers, this is the book to buy. For established Thurber fans - you need to add this Thurber/Keillor pairing to your library. "Here, in over 1000 pages, editor Garrison Keillor presents the best and most extensive collection ever assembled" Also included are 500 classic Thurber drawings. I was absolutely thrilled to find this publication. A well-made, beautiful collection of James Thurber's work.

I love Thurber's prose style, the communicative simplicity of his drawings, and his dry, humane sense of humor. Had there been no James Thurber, there would be no Garrison Keillor. (I probably place Thurber as the link between Twain and Keillor in the chain of American storytellers.)Four stars rather than five for the maudlin tone that creeps in to some of the less humorous stories (although he is wonderfully capable of writing affectionately and sentimentally while still being funny), and Thurber more often than necessary falls into the traps of White Straight Mid-Century American Maleness. He is often uncomfortably patronizing towards women, and reliably offensive about black and gay people.Nonetheless, he can make me laugh and cry and sigh with wonder over his masterful use of American English. A must read/must own, with all the above caveats.

I am 90 yrs o!d & have always known about this character but never got a chance to read is books before.

What an amazingly irreverent sense of humor Mr. Thurber exhibits. From familial mishaps to stories exposing American society's quirks, this compilation repeatedly brings a knowing smile or an agreeing smirk as reaction to his remarkable prose and casual, tongue-in-cheek story telling. His simple drawings evoke a comfortable humor and an often "sideways" look into our relationships with our pets, our neighbors and our social interactions. I'm also charmingly amused at the prevalence and apparent integral, social importance that alcohol played in his life and the lives of his characters. This tome was thoroughly enjoyed at home, in front of a roaring fire, with a cocktail (or two) on chilly autumn evenings. I thoroughly recommend entering the sometimes cock-eyed, but always entertaining world of Mr. James Thurber!

I am irredeemably prejudiced for when I was a little boy my mother left copies of the New Yorker around and I was hooked early on Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, Alex Woolcott plus the greatest humourist since Mark Twain, James Thurber, who happens also to be my favourite all-time cartoonist. I only accept an invitation to review if I consider it 5 star which means very high on the list for that desert island. James Thurber has become an automatic qualifier and this book will tell you why.

Good to have a collection in one volume. I have most of what is here, but in several volumes, decades old and pretty beaten-up

This is a real gem. I'm enjoying dipping into this and finding that his writing stands up really well in time. It is also a nice quality production and I'm really pleased I bought it.

James Thurber deserves this special edition.

I have loved Thurber since I was a child and now rereading the stories years later I still laugh myself silly