Henry Finder Libros

A look back at the 1950s chronicles the tensions and innovations that lay behind the decade's more placid surface during a time of prosperity and contradiction

The 1940s marked a pivotal decade of trauma, innovation, and cultural transformation, characterized by significant events and figures such as FDR, Stalin, and iconic films like Casablanca. This era also saw The New Yorker evolve from a humor-focused magazine to a platform for in-depth reporting and literary excellence, introducing American readers to notable works by writers like Vladimir Nabokov and Elizabeth Bishop. This captivating collection features contributions from renowned writers who shaped the magazine during this transformative time, contextualized by contemporary writers. It includes essential profiles of influential figures and important, often overlooked criticism. Among the most enduring contributions were the magazine's fiction and poetry, showcasing an impressive array of short stories, including Shirley Jackson's controversial "The Lottery" and John Cheever's celebrated "The Enormous Radio." The anthology also highlights the era's prominent poets, including Louise Bogan, William Carlos Williams, Theodore Roethke, and Langston Hughes, reflecting the rich literary landscape of the decade.

The New Yorker is, of course, a bastion of superb essays, influential investigative journalism, and insightful arts criticism. But for eighty years it’s also been a hoot. Now an uproarious sampling of its funny writings can be found in this collection, by turns satirical and witty, misanthropic and menacing. From the 1920s onward—but with a special focus on the latest generation—here are the humorists who have set the pace and stirred the pot, pulled the leg and pinched the behind of America. The comic lineup includes Christopher Buckley, Ian Frazier, Veronica Geng, Garrison Keillor, Steve Martin, Susan Orlean, Simon Rich, David Sedaris, Calvin Trillin, and many others. If laughter is the best medicine, Disquiet, Please! is truly a wonder drug.