This was a moderately fun, easy, quick read. Mostly just a list of gossip and 'dirt' on various writers - authors, playwrights, essayists, and the people surrounding them. From some of the old stories we've all heard to some new ones, and from the 'lofty writers' to the 'lowliest writers'. There's not a ton to it, but its an easy entertaining read.

Local author too, did much of his research at the Hershey Public Library, so thats kinda cool too. (The library copy I borrowed was even signed by the author.) ( )

There are certainly some astonishing real life stories in here. The book is an easy read with a conversational style. The style is perhaps a little too mild, though. All the anecdotes feel the same, despite how racy, dangerous or horrifying they should be. And the very occasional f or c bomb feels decidedly out of place instead of expected. Could have been a lot more entertaining, but it is still a most interesting read. ( )

This was a moderately fun, easy, quick read. Mostly just a list of gossip and 'dirt' on various writers - authors, playwrights, essayists, and the people surrounding them. From some of the old stories we've all heard to some new ones, and from the 'lofty writers' to the 'lowliest writers'. There's not a ton to it, but its an easy entertaining read.

Local author too, did much of his research at the Hershey Public Library, so thats kinda cool too. (The library copy I borrowed was even signed by the author.) ( )

To err is to be human, or after reading this book, to err is to be a writer. That said, this book demonstrates that writers really are just that: all to horribly human, and often in the worst possible conotation of the word. I'll admit I started this book amused by the crazy wild behavior of these writers, many classical writers that have helped guide and shake our culture for hundreds of years, and by the end of the book i was absolutely horrified. its like one bad reality television shoe flung throughout hundreds of years of history...that said, like a deer caught in the headlights, its hard to look away from this book. a lot of the stories are really funny, and it is certainly a good read, though certainly not for the faint of the heart, and i wouldn't urge any highschool students to meet their favorite authors this way. wow. i think that really says it all? ( )

A fun read. I always knew authors were a special breed, but some of these stories are really outrageous. ( )