by Ken Kalfus
First published 1990
Christopher Morley wandered through Philadelphia and its suburbs during his years as a columnist for the Philadelphia Evening Ledger from 1918 to 1920. His assignment was simple: stroll around the city, enjoy a relaxed lunch, then write about what he discovered. The celebrated author of Parnassus on Wheels and Kitty Foyle produced a series of spirited essays that captured the character of Philadelphia during this period. Ken Kalfus has gathered Morley's finest Philadelphia writings, previously scattered across twelve volumes published during the author's lifetime, many unavailable for fifty years or more. The collection includes period artwork by Walter Jack Duncan and Frank Taylor, plus Kalfus's critical introduction. Much of the Philadelphia that Morley documented still exists today for those willing to look closely and take their time exploring.
Genres: essays, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, biography-memoir
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-setting, slice-of-life
Setting: Philadelphia, Philadelphia Evening Ledger
Period: 1918-1920
329 pages · Paperback · Fordham University Press