Books By Dorothy Parker
	The Portable Dorothy Parker By Dorothy Parker. Introduction by Marion Meade. Cover by Seth. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition Paperback: 628 pps, Penguin Books, March 2006 This is the bible for Dorothy Parker lovers. "The Portable" contains Mrs. Parker's short stories, poems, book reviews and Broadway criticism. The book originally came out in 1944 — and has never gone out of print. All of Mrs. Parker's most famous writing is presented here. Her short stories and verse were chosen in 1944 and arranged by Parker herself. This new edition adds her letters, magazine pieces, criticism and book reviews. The book was edited by Marion Meade, author of "Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell is This?" For most Parker fans, this is the first collection they buy, and it is a good start. If you are going to own just one Parker book, this is it. Read the Marion Meade Q&A -- Seth Q&A -- Book Review.
	The Portable Dorothy Parker By Dorothy Parker. Introduction by Brendan Gill. Paperback: 610 pps, Penguin Books, 1944, 1973. This is the first revised "Portable Dorothy Parker" that adds to the 1944 edition. It has short stories, poems, criticism and essays. When this edition of the book came out in 1973 the editors added some of Dorothy Parker's theater reviews from Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, along with selected book reviews she penned for The New Yorker and Esquire. The only downside to this edition is the rotten introduction by the crusty Brendan Gill, who was a longtime staff member of The New Yorker and is not too kind to Mrs. Parker. I suggest skipping his intro entirely.
	The Poetry & Short Stories of Dorothy Parker Hardcover: 457 pps, Random House, 1994. This is the Modern Library edition of the classic Dorothy Parker collection of stories and poems. If you want to introduce someone to Mrs. Parker — maybe with a birthday gift book — get this. The first half is divided into verse from the collected editions Enough Rope, Sunset Gun, Death and Taxes; the second half is more than 25 short stories. It's a compact little hardcover book, with an old style typeface, and moderately priced. Even the dust jacket is classy.
	Dorothy Parker, Complete Stories By Dorothy Parker. Regina Barreca (introduction) Paperback: 480 pps, Penguin Books, 2002. Highest recommendation. Perfect to take on the subway, keep by your bedside, or give as a gift to the new Parker fan. All the greatest hits of classic Parker short stories and sketches. Collects everything from "Such a Pretty Little Picture" (1922) to her final story, "The Bolt Behind the Blue" (1958). What I like is that it lists the publication date and name of the publication where the stories first appeared, unlike The Portable. There is also a well-written and concise introduction. A chronology and bio are included. These short stories are what sets Parker up as one of the best American writers of the 20th Century. Get this book. The intro is by Regina Barreca, a professor at the University of Connecticut.
	Not Much Fun: The Lost Poems of Dorothy Parker By Dorothy Parker. Edited by Stuart Y. Silverstein. Paperback: 256 pps, Scribner, 1996. Highly recommended. If you have The Portable Dorothy Parker, you also need to own Not Much Fun: The Lost Poems of Dorothy Parker. This comprises all the work Parker left out of her earlier collected editions. Most people have not been exposed to this material for more than 60 years. Most was published from World War I to the 1920s in the old New York Life humor magazine, the New Yorker, New York Herald Tribune, Saturday Evening Post. An excellent and well-written 60-page bio by Silverstein, with lavish footnotes and trivia spread out. There are some real gems in here that bear reading. You need this book in your collection to appreciate some of Parker's early, breezy verse. Read the Stuart Y. Silverstein DPSNY interview here. See some pages from the original source material of the book: click here.
	Here We Are, A Telephone Call Paperback: 22 pages; Travelman Publishing; (October 2001) This is a clever way to present 2 great short stories by Mrs. Parker. The "book" is more like a roadmap, it folds out for easy reading. Perfect for the "6" train ride downtown to the Algonquin. These are 2 of my favorite Parker stories, both about love. If you're looking for an inexpensive gift book, this is it. It even comes with a mailing envelope too. Each short story is printed on one sheet of paper and folded like a map. This makes it simple to read while commuting, convenient to carry when not, and easy to give or send to a friend. A paper envelope is provided for mailing or gift-giving, and both are packaged in a clear plastic envelope for display. The cost is not much more than a greeting card -- it's under five bucks!