Writer and poet Dorothy Parker had a reputation as a “wisecracker”. Her writing style, for which she was renowned, displayed her sharp wit and no holds barred take on life, lust, love and death.
Following two years at Vogue, Dorothy came into prominence when she joined Vanity Fair as a staff writer in the early 1920’s. Her theatre reviews, although popular with readers, proved so offensive to producers that eventually politics won and her position was terminated.
In the wake of her departure from Conde`Nast she joined newly established The New Yorker magazine marking the beginning of a prolific period in her writing career. Over the course of the next fifteen years she published volumes of her poetry with titles including Enough Rope and Sunset Gun, as well as 300 or more poems and free verse.
In the mid to late 1930’s Parker moved to Hollywood where she quickly established herself as a scriptwriter. Proving her flair for words saw no boundaries she was duly rewarded with an Academy Award nomination.
Dorothy Parker remained a writer, criss-crossing formats and churning out memorable phrases like only she could, until her last days. With words like these it’s little wonder her work still resonates today.
“You can lead a whore to culture but you can’t make her think.”
"Brevity is the soul of lingerie."
"One more drink and I'll be under the host."
"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities with take care of themselves.
"I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true."
"I've never been a millionaire but I just know I'd be darling at it."
"I require three things in a man. He must be handsome, ruthless and stupid."
"Money cannot buy health, but I'd settle for a diamond-studded wheelchair."