And they pretend to be lady fishes, depositing their eggs in the sand. This offering is a sequel to that book and so i chose to read it when it was put up as a digital download on bard, the website used by print disabled people to retrieve books which are part of the talking book program. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold. I have always loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell and i have the soundtrack from the musical with angela landsbury. Auntie mame is a 1955 novel by patrick dennis that chronicles the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of his deceased fathers eccen. Tanners advice to those seeking a more interesting, adventurous life was to never be afraid to try a new experience and to keep an open mind about everything and everybody. Around the world with auntie mame by patrick dennis. One of the most eccentric, celebrated, and widely read authors of the 1950s and 60s, tanner wrote sixteen novels in all, a majority of which were national bestsellers. The book resembles more the the 1948 classic auntie mame rather than the 1974 lucille ball. Mame is a lovable socialite who somehow manages to be both flighty and genuine at the same time. It is also, incidentally, one of the most important books in my life. I somehow feel that auntie mame and her little love patrick wouldnt want it any other way. Around the world with auntie mame is the hysterical sequel to the classic auntie mame and is as funny as the original.
One of the most eccentric, celebrated, and widely read authors of the 1950s and 60s, tanner wrote 16 novels in all, a more about patrick dennis. Patrick dennis, the fictional narrator of auntie mame and little me, was the pen name. I have waited years for patrick dennis s books to be reprinted and at last, here some are. Everyone adored him for his effusive wit, polished manners, and beguiling charm. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books. Reportedly, the character of auntie mame was based on patrick dennis s real life aunt, marian tanner. An irreverent escapade 1955 was one of the bestselling american books of the 20th century. At the height of its popularity, it was selling more than 1,000. Auntie mame author patrick dennis later became ray krocs.
A goodnatured eccentric, who lived to be nearly one hundred years old, ms. Set in new york, in the roaring twenties, this hillarious escapede is about a fast talking and clever, yet honest and kind womam, told through the eyes of her impressionable nephew. They were there when ever i needed to be cheered up or simply bored and there was no one to talk to. In 1955, a us editor finally saw the potential of patrick denniss auntie mame, a comic depressionera novel about a 10yearold orphan and his irreverent, madcap manhattan aunt. This book by patrick dennis is about his auntie mame. An anonymous voicemail about around the world with auntie mame by patrick dennis. Buy auntie mame by patrick dennis online at alibris. Sparklingly witty, irreverently satirical, this 1955 novel manages to remain timelessly relevant in its cutting sendup of conformity, conservatism, and cupidity. Auntie mame, and oh, darling, you know we writers must occasionally stretch a point to heighten the dramatic situation.
Patrick dennis has gained a prominent place on my bookshelf. Auntie mame i stepped on the ping pong ball duration. Edward everett tanner iii spent the last years of his life as a butler, in spite of having been one of the most popular novelists o. Originally titled my best girl, it is based on the 1955 novel auntie mame by patrick dennis and a 1956 broadway play, by lawrence and lee, that starred rosalind russell. In 1955, auntie mame spent 112 weeks on the new york times bestseller list, but that was only her first act. An irreverent escapade by patrick dennis goodreads. This is one of the funniest fucking books you will ever read. Three years later, thousands of fans celebrated her. Patrick dennis famous auntie mame has so many incarnations that it can be hard to keep track. Buy a cheap copy of around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. In 1955, a us editor finally saw the potential of patrick denniss auntie mame, a comic depressionera novel about a 10yearold orphan and. But by the early 1960s, after she had been immortalized in auntie mame the novel written by her nephew, edward everett tanner 3d, using the pen name patrick dennis.
Patrick dennis has 18 books on goodreads with 23576 ratings. Patrick is 10 years old when story opens, so hes only 28 at the end, but he has a 10yearold son. From the early days of his misspent youth, auntie mame s creator edward everett tanner iii pseudonym patrick dennis was the life of the party. Patrick dennis, the fictional narrator of auntie mame and little me, was the pen name of edward everett tanner iii 19211976. I always start writing with a clean piece of paper and a dirty mind. Mame dennis first swam into my ken during the long, hot, boring summer of 1973, an anodyne to the astoundingly dreary watergate hearings on tv. A bisexual, he had a wife and family, but also pursued relationships with men on the side. In the 1950s there was a famous stage version and still more famous film version, both starring the illustrious rosalind russell. I guess it started out with entries to the readers digest. Mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. In chronological vignettes, the narrator also named patrick recalls his adventures growing up under the wing of his madcap aunt, mame dennis. The first edition of the novel was published in 1955, and was written by patrick dennis.
It was made into a play, a broadway and a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 299 pages and is available in paperback format. Around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife. The musical is based on a book, auntie mame by patrick dennis, which i have never read. Nineyear old patricks handsoff father drops dead unexpectedly leaving young paddy in the newage, swinging twenties hands of his fathers sisterauntie mame. Auntie mame starring rosalind russell click to play it.
Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books the. Auntie mame s exploits while extreme are totally believable and you get a distinct feeling for the time period and how it was a time of innocence and innovation. At mame s party for the upsons, babcock complains hes had to deal with mame. It was made into a play, a broadway as well as a hollywood musical, and a.
And by that i mean its a howl from start to finish. Edward everett tanner iii 18 may 1921 6 november 1976, known by the pseudonym patrick dennis, was an american author. The book is lighthearted, genuinely funny and very well written, with a wide array of fantastically eccentric characters and a wry narrator in the nowgrown patrick dennis, who recounts his many adventures with his outrageous auntie mame since she became his guardian on the death of his absent, conservative and phenomenally wealthy. The movie and the book certainly go together hand in hand and quite deliciously so, like a cocktail in one hand and a cigarette holder in the other. Dennis wrote a sequel, titled around the world with auntie mame, in 1958. The story opens in 1928 according to dennis will and closes in 1946 according to mame s telegram. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. Edward everett tanner iii spent the last years of his life as a butler, in spite of having been one of the most popular novelists of the 1950s and 1960s. It is what it is a blissfully easytoread, unapologetically american social comedy, with enough perfectly timed, backhanded slaps at social snobbery, racism and antisemitism to redeem it from total silliness. Page and all the girls crouch down on the floor under the sun lamps. The book ends with patrick seven year old child being introduce to a much older mame and history will repeat itself. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick denni. Patrick dennis, author of the book and auntie mame s fictional nephew, is a pseudonym for author edward everett tanner, iii. Mame is a musical with the book by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee and music and lyrics by jerry herman.
Meeting her narrowminded potential inlaws lee patrick, left, and willard waterman in their segregated suburb, miss dennis. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis the book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook mirrored those of mame, but dennis denied the. Dennis and a friend marketed the book to the booksellers. Auntie mame is a unique literary achievementa brilliant novel disguised as a lightweight piece of fluff. The final chapters deal with the shenanigans that mame go through to get patrick married. Every page sparkles with wit, style andthough mame would.
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