by David Denby
First published 1955
Ben Hecht lived multiple lives with fierce energy and sharp wit. This autobiography captures his journey from Chicago newspaperman to Hollywood screenwriter, co-author of celebrated plays like The Front Page and Twentieth Century. Hecht moved between worlds as naturally as breathing, working as acrobat, magician, poet, author, and propagandist. He rubbed shoulders with literary giants H.L. Mencken and Sherwood Anderson, shared stages with John Barrymore and Harpo Marx, and traded barbs with Dorothy Parker and Fanny Brice. His collaborations with Charles MacArthur produced theatrical gold. The book overflows with vivid stories from three major cities that shaped American culture. Hecht writes with the same brilliant, outrageous spirit that made him unforgettable to everyone who knew him. His tales reveal a man who embraced each new adventure with passion and intelligence, never settling for a single identity when he could master a dozen.
Genres: 20th-century, american, autobiography, biography-memoir
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, vivid
Tropes: multiple-identities, passion-and-intelligence
Setting: Chicago, Hollywood
Period: 20th-century
Mass Market Paperback · Signet