Friends, Writers, and Other Countrymen

"Sidney Offit's memoir of a writer's life reflects some of the greatest (and most infamous) literary, political, and sports personalities of our century. His early days in Baltimore (where he met H. L. Mencken and entertained Robert Frost) are as engaging as his later encounters with Dylan Thomas, John Steinbeck, Pablo Neruda, Heinrich Boll, and some of the era's greatest ballplayers: Robinson, Mantle, Mays, and Williams." "Mixing with a remarkable and diverse crowd led Sidney to run-ins and adventures with Truman Capote ("What kind of guy are you?"), Jackie Kennedy (in a corner), Kurt Vonnegut (who identified Sidney as his "best friend"), Toni Morrison, and other bards, muses, and just plain folk. Their conversations are recalled with gentle humor and a keen eye for a New York where casual and spontaneous encounters may shape what the country reads or where a stroll around the corner can change a life."--BOOK JACKET.Offit, Sidney is the author of 'Friends, Writers, and Other Countrymen', published 2008 under ISBN 9780312375225 and ISBN 0312375220.