Irvin S. Cobb : the rise and fall of an American humorist / William E. Ellis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ellis, William E. (William Elliott), 1940- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Authors, American--20th century--Biography.

Authors, American.

Humorists, American--20th century--Biography.

Humorists, American.

Journalists--United States--Biography.

Journalists.

Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944.

Cobb, Irvin S.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (300 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Lexington, Kentucky : The University Press of Kentucky, [2017]

Summary:

"Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn."-Irvin S. Cobb Born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, humorist Irvin S. Cobb (1876-1944) rose from humble beginnings to become one of the early twentieth century's most celebrated writers. As a staff reporter for the New York World and Saturday Evening Post, he became one of the highest-paid journalists in the United States. He also wrote short stories for noted magazines, published books, and penned scripts for the stage and screen. In Irvin S. Cobb: The Rise and Fall of a Southern Humorist, historian William E. Ellis examines the life of this significant writer. Though a consummate wordsmith and a talented observer of the comical in everyday life, Cobb was a product of the Reconstruction era and the Jim Crow South. As a party to the endemic racism of his time, he often bemoaned the North's harsh treatment of the South and stereotyped African Americans in his writings. Marred by racist undertones, Cobb's work has largely slipped into obscurity. Nevertheless, Ellis argues that Cobb's life and works are worthy of more detailed study, citing his wide-ranging contributions to media culture and his coverage of some of the biggest stories of his day, including on-the-ground reporting during World War I. A valuable resource for students of journalism, American humor, and popular culture, this illuminating biography explores Cobb's life and his influence on early twentieth-century letters.

Contents:

Intro

Half title

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Introduction

1. The Making of an American Humorist

2. Big-City Newspaperman

3. From Newspaperman to Short Story Writer

4. Crossroads Again: Success, Fame, and Fortune

5. World War I: Foreign Correspondent

6. Midlife: 1915 to Early 1918

7. Momentum: War and Peace, Awards and Prosperity

8. Accommodation: The Early Jazz Age

9. From the "Boss" to the "Chief": Cobb at the Pinnacle of His Career

10. From Prosperity to Depression

11. A New Beginning and the Beginning of the End

12. Exit Laughing

Acknowledgments

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

OCLC:

999803961