The Manhattan girls A novel of Dorothy Parker and her friends

Dorothy Parker's wit is famous (if not infamous), but her fragile ego and intense longing are less often discussed. In her latest piece of historical fiction, Paul introduces the reader to Parker's circle of friends in early 1920s New York. Parker's acerbic sense of humor lays the foundations for the group at the "Gonk" (the Algonquin Hotel) to chat and gossip and drink. Among Parker's closest friends are Jane Grant, the first woman reporter at the New York Times; Winifred Lenihan, Broadway star; and Peggy Leach, a brilliant writer disguised as a mousy spinster. Each woman takes a turn narrating as Paul moves around Manhattan, from speakeasies to run-down, walk-up apartments. The women must navigate the heady and confusing atmosphere of postwar NYC. They become united in their efforts to keep Parker from falling completely apart when her marriage begins to falter. Paul (The Lost Daughter, 2019) strikes a balance between the cynicism of the Lost Generation and the characters' sincere desires to find happiness and stability. Witty, emotional, and intelligent.