The memoir offers a vivid portrayal of New York City during the tumultuous yet vibrant 1970s, blending gritty realities with a sense of glamour. It reflects the author's experiences and insights as a prominent cultural critic, delving into the complexities of the era. Through personal anecdotes, the narrative explores the contrasting elements of the city, highlighting both its challenges and its allure.
James Wolcott’s career as a critic has been unmatched, from his early Seventies dispatches for The Village Voice to the literary coverage made him equally feared and famous to his must-read reports on the cultural weather for Vanity Fair. Bringing together his best work from across the decades, this collection shows Wolcott as connoisseur, intrepid reporter, memoirist, and necessary naysayer. We begin with “O.K. Corral Revisited,” Wolcott’s career-launching account of the famed Norman Mailer–Gore Vidal dust-off on the original Dick Cavett Show. He goes on to consider (or reconsider) the towering figures of our culture, among them Lena Dunham Patti Smith, Johnny Carson, Woody Allen, and John Cheever. And we witness his legendary takedowns, which have entered into the literary lore of our time. In an age where a great deal of back scratching and softball pitching pass for criticism, Critical Mass offers a bracing taste of the real thing.
Johnny Downs lebt als Barkeeper und Schauspieler ein sorgloses Leben mit seiner Musikbox und Katze. Doch nach der Trennung von seiner Traumfrau Nicole und Darlene's Diagnose, dass seine Macken ihn unattraktiv machen, beginnt er ein strenges Trainingsprogramm, um "ehefähig" zu werden. Ob das gelingt?