The Genius of James Thurber

Inventory ID 657948. Laminated Hardcover in slipcase 236 pages. Condition Fine Issued with NO Dust Jacket Slipcase Very Good. Folio Society edition Stated first edition second printing 1997. Striking illustrated wraps spotlights this Clean, tight, square copy with no marks, highlights or bookplates. Book Well kept and carefully stored in unread condition. No shelf wear with undamaged corners. Slipcase smooth, clean and brilliant with slight shelf wear - a few stains and chips. Not an ex-library, book club or remainder copy.The Genius of James Thurber is a collection that showcases the wit, humor, and keen observational skills of one of America's most celebrated humorists. Bringing together a selection of Thurber's short stories, essays, and drawings, the book highlights his ability to blend satire with a deep understanding of human nature. His pieces often explore the absurdities of everyday life, relationships, and society, filled with characters who navigate a world that is both comically exaggerated and strikingly familiar.The book includes some of his most famous works, featuring his signature blend of dry humor and whimsical illustrations that add another layer to his storytelling. Whether through his imaginative fables, sharp critiques of modern life, or reflections on his own experiences, the collection captures the unique brilliance that made Thurber a defining voice in American literature.Thurber was born in Columbus, Ohio to Charles L. Thurber and Mary Agnes (Mame) Fisher Thurber. Both of his parents greatly influenced his work. His father, a sporadically employed clerk and minor politician who dreamed of being a lawyer or an actor, is said to have been the inspiration for the small, timid protagonist typical of many of his stories. Thurber described his mother as a "born comedienne" and "one of the finest comic talents I think I have ever known." She was a practical joker, on one occasion pretending to be crippled and attending a faith healer revival, only to jump up and proclaim herself healed.Thurber had two brothers, William and Robert. Once, while playing a game of William Tell, his brother William shot James in the eye with an arrow. Thurber lost his eye leaving him almost blind. During his childhood he was unable to participate in sports and activities because of his injury, and instead developed a remarkable imagination, which he shared in his writings.He began his writing career as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch from 1921 to 1924. In 1925, he moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, getting a job as a reporter for the New York Evening Post. He joined the staff of The New Yorker in 1927 as an editor with the help of his friend and fellow New Yorker contributor, E.B. White. His career as a cartoonist began in 1930 when White found some of Thurber's drawings in a trash can and submitted them for publication. Thurber would contribute both his writings and his drawings to The New Yorker until the 1950s.…