<<The>> prince of minor writers the selected essays of Max Beerbohm

AN NYRB CLASSICS ORIGINAL Virginia Woolf called Max Beerbohm “the prince” of essayists, F. W. Dupee praised his “whim of iron” and “cleverness amounting to genius,” while Beerbohm himself noted that “only the insane take themselves quite seriously.” From his precocious debut as a dandy in 1890s Oxford until he put his pen aside in the aftermath of World War II, Beerbohm was recognized as an incomparable observer of modern life and an essayist whose voice was always and only his own. Here Phillip Lopate, one of the finest essayists of our day, has selected the finest of Beerbohm’s essays. Whether writing about the vogue for Russian writers, laughter and philosophy, dandies, or George Bernard Shaw, Beerbohm is as unpredictable as he is unfailingly witty and wise. As Lopate writes, “Today . . . it becomes all the more necessary to ponder how Beerbohm performed the delicate operation of displaying so much personality without lapsing into sticky confession.” Called By Virginia Woolf The Prince Of Essayists And Praised By F. W. Dupee For A Whim Of Iron, Cleverness Amounting To Genius, Max Beerbohm Himself Noted That Only The Insane Take Themselves Quite Seriously. Nonetheless, From His Precocious Debut As A Dandy In 1890s Oxford, Until After World War Ii, When He Put The Pen Aside, Beerbohm Was Recognized As An Incomparable Observer Of Modern Life And An Essayist Whose Voice Was Always And Only His Own. Here Phillip Lopate, One Of The Finest Essayists Of Our Day, Has Selected The Finest Of Beerbohm's Essays. Whether Writing About The Vogue For Russian Writers, Laughter And Philosophy, Dandies, Or George Bernard Shaw, Beerbohm Is As Unpredictable As He Is Unfailingly Witty And Wise. As Lopate Writes, Today...it Becomes All The More Necessary To Ponder How Beerbohm Performed The Delicate Operation Of Displaying So Much Personality Without Lapsing Into Sticky Confession.-- Edited And With An Introduction By Phillip Lopate. "Called by Virginia Woolf "the prince" of essayists and praised by F.W. Dupee for a "whim of iron, cleverness amounting to genius," Max Beerbohm himself noted that "only the insane take themselves quite seriously." Nonetheless, from his precocious debut as a dandy in 1890s Oxford until, after World War II, when he put the pen aside, Beerbohm was recognized as an incomparable observer of modern life and an essayist whose voice was always and only his own. Here Phillip Lopate, one of the finest essayists of our day, has selected the finest of Beerbohm's essays. Whether writing about the vogue for Russian writers, laughter and philosophy, dandies, or George Bernard Shaw, Beerbohm is as unpredictable as he is unfailingly witty and wise. As Lopate writes, "Today ... it becomes all the more necessary to ponder how Beerbohm performed the delicate operation of displaying so much personality without lapsing into sticky confession.""-- Provided by publisher