The story behind a nonfiction novel the new york times. Newsweek the best of plimpton shows how much fun life can be. He was also famous for participatory journalism which included competing in professional sporting events. Quotations by george plimpton, american journalist, born march 18, 1927. A catalogue of the arithmetics written before the year mdci, with description of those in the library of george arthur plimpton, of new york author. Plimptons amiably absurd narrative notwithstanding, its pene du bois illustrations that are really the star of the book. Light cracking noise when opening front cover, no evidence of anything being cracked, book is square, appears solid, unmarked, offwhite pages, some fade to upper cover and. The best of plimpton collects for the first time the work of a distinguished thirtyfiveyear career. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found.
In this case, the rabbit, plus three robbers, shouting parrots, and a giant dog named lump serve as bait to entice a boy to listen to plimptons story, which is essentially a. Plimpton was a writerraconteur and dilettante in the best sense of the word. Discover book depositorys huge selection of george plimpton books online. George plimpton reissues books that took us inside the game. Paper lion is a 1966 nonfiction book by american author george plimpton. George plimpton, a firststring writer tries out as a laststring quarterback for the detroit lions, the book was made into a movie in 1968 starring alan alda as plimpton.
When edie was first published, it quickly became an international bestseller and then took its place among the classic books about the 1960s. Confessions of a laststring quarterback, and more on. George plimpton s life as told, admired, deplored, and envied by 200 friends, relatives, lovers, acquaintances, rivals and a few unappreciative observers book the best of plimpton by george plimpton book. George ames plimpton march 18, 1927 september 25, 2003 was an american journalist, writer, literary editor, actor and occasional amateur sportsman. George ames plimpton was born on march 18, 1927, in new york, the son of francis t. A personal friend of the new england sedgwick family, plimpton edited edie. Paper lion audiobook by george plimpton, nicholas dawidoff. In another cartoon in the new yorker, a patient looks up at the masked surgeon about to operate on him and asks, wait a minute. Much as i enjoyed plimptons book, i cant help feeling guilty, like having been to a movie on a fine summers afternoon. The new yorker may earn a portion of sales from products and services that are purchased through links on our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with retailers. David eugene 18601944 smith, george arthur 18551936 plimpton. How george plimptons sports books presaged the firstperson. George ames plimpton was born in new york on march 18, 1927, the son of francis t.
He was an actor and writer, known for good will hunting 1997, nixon 1995 and l. See all books authored by george plimpton, including edie. American writer and editor george plimpton was best known by the american public for his nonfiction books and articles that were the result of what he termed participatory journalism. George ames plimpton was an american journalist, writer, editor, actor, and gamesman. George ames plimpton march 18, 1927 september 25, 2003 was an american journalist, writer, literary editor, actor. Explore books by george plimpton with our selection at.
Paper lion has vivid details, exuberant humor, a powerful narrative arc and a polished, sophisticated diction, all of which suggested a. The book that made a legend and captures americas sport in detail thats never been matched, featuring a foreword by nicholas dawidoff and neverbeforeseen content from the plimpton archives. Sep 25, 2003 george ames plimpton march 18, 1927 september 25, 2003 was an american journalist, writer, literary editor, actor and occasional amateur sportsman. George plimpton george plimpton biography and career. George plimpton was an american journalist, actor, editor, and writer.
Professional football as it looks to a first string writer trying out as a laststring quarterback. George plimptons followup to paper lion, one of his personal favorites among his classic books repackaged and including a foreword from steve almond and neverbeforeseen content from the plimpton archives. The fascinating story of george plimptons famous book. In the following interview, done a few weeks ago, truman capote presents his own views on the case, its principals, and in particular he discusses the new literary art form which he calls the nonfiction novel. Every sports fan, at some point in their life, has wondered what it would be like to live in the game and play amongst its stars. George plimpton books list of books by george plimpton. Although the videotape is now out of print and a dvd edition has never been produced, if you are lucky it sometimes show up on cable.
In 1960, plimpton, not an athlete, arranged to pitch to a lineup of professional baseball players in an allstar exhibition, presumably to answer the question, how would the average man off of the street fare in an attempt to compete with the stars of professional. Plimpton rose to junior partner status by 1881, and when the amherstgraduate daniel collamore heath 18431908 withdrew from the firm in 1885, plimpton became a founding partner of the rebranded ginn and company with ginn managing the firms boston headquarters and plimpton managing its fledging new york office, ginn and company competed with. He was married to sara whitehead dudley and freddy medora espy. The rabbit with the umbrella in george plimptons childrens book, the rabbits umbrella, is every bit as real as santa claus and the easter bunny. These events were recalled in his bestknown book paper lion, which was later adapted into a. George ames plimpton 2 was born in new york city on march 18, 1927, and spent his childhood there, attending st. Nprs scott simon talks with sportscaster bob costas about. Bernards school and growing up in an apartment duplex on manhattans upper east side located at 1165 fifth avenue. Sep 27, 2003 george ames plimpton was born on march 18, 1927, in new york, the son of francis t. George plimpton, author and editor, is dead at 76 the new. Apr 23, 2016 george plimpton reissues books that took us inside the game seven of the the late george plimpton s sports books are being rereleased. He was educated first at phillips exeter academy in new hampshire, and then spent four years at harvard majoring in english and editing the harvard lampoon, followed by two at kings college, cambridge. In 1968, the book was turned into a movie, starring alan alda as george plimpton with the 1968 lions playing themselves. He gets some interest from some teams but it winds up going nowhere.
Plimpton, a successful corporate lawyer who became the american ambassador to the united nations. A framed menu from toots shor, the famed midtown new york saloon and restaurant, once hung on the wall above the desk of george. That book became an international bestseller, of which norman mailer wrote. George plimpton, who has died aged 76, became a bestselling author by not only writing about sporting heroes but by participating in those sports as well. The new yorker the best of plimpton shows the author to be a quietly adroit stylist with the lightest touch since e. He tries the new york titans later the jets and then in the afl but hes warned that its a team with little talent. George plimpton books list of books by author george. Sep 25, 2003 george ames plimpton was an american journalist, writer, editor, actor, and gamesman. He was also famous for participatory journalism which included competing in professional sporting events, acting in a western, performing a comedy act at. Sep 25, 2017 finally, george plimptons paper lion joins a growing body of firstrate writing about sports. In his july 1936 obituary, the new york times described george arthur plimpton july 18551 july 1936 as an internationally known publisher and collector, college trustee and philanthropist. In mad ducks and bears, george plimptons engaging companion to paper lion, plimpton focuses on two of the most entertaining and roguish linemen and former.
With his characteristic wit, plimpton recounts his experiences in talking his way into training camp with the detroit lions, practicing with the team, and taking snaps behind center. Seven of the the late george plimptons sports books are being. For helen crawford very best wishes george plimpton. It has a lot of entertaining stuff in it, butas often. Bob morris, last call at george plimpton s party pad, new york times, march 2, 2018. George plimpton has 127 books on goodreads with 37632 ratings. Check your books more thoroughly next time, book sellers.
Follow to get new release updates and improved recommendations. A catalogue of the arithmetics written before the year mdci, with description of those in the library of george arthur plimpton, of new. Audible provides the highest quality audio and narration. Sep 26, 2003 george ames plimpton was born in new york on march 18, 1927, the son of francis t. Octavo, original pale blue cloth, original dust jacket. George plimptons life as told, admired, deplored, and envied by 200 friends, relatives, lovers, acquaintances, rivals and a few unappreciative observers book the best of plimpton by george plimpton book. George plimpton s followup to paper lion, one of his personal favorites among his classic books repackaged and including a foreword from steve almond and neverbeforeseen content from the plimpton archives. The book opens with plimpton trying to find a team that will let him carry out his plan. Download audiobooks narrated by george plimpton to your device.
Sep 29, 2003 george plimpton, who has died aged 76, became a bestselling author by not only writing about sporting heroes but by participating in those sports as well. A 1971 cartoon in the new yorker shows a cleaning lady on her hands and knees scrubbing an office floor while saying to another one. But if no novel over here quite tracks powells course, the life of george ames plimpton, impressively recorded in this glorious new biography. George plimpton, who died last week at his town house, on east seventysecond street near the river, was a serious man of serious accomplishments who just happened to have more fun than a van full. Best of plimpton by george plimpton, paperback barnes. George plimpton reissues books that took us inside the game seven of the the late george plimptons sports books are being rereleased. First edition of this account of professional football, as it looks to a firststring writer trying out as a laststring quarterback, illustrated with 16 pages of photographs, inscribed, with warm. George plimpton, who died last week at his town house, on east seventysecond street near the river, was a serious man of serious accomplishments who just happened to. George plimpton, right, after a boxing match with archie moore at stillmans gym, new york city, 1959. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. In mad ducks and bears, george plimpton s engaging companion to paper lion, plimpton focuses on two of the most entertaining and roguish linemen and former teammates alex karras. Including profiles, essays, articles, and such classic inventions as the amazing story of sidd finch and the snows of studio 54, the book is a rich mix from one of americas most talented and unique literary personalities. Enjoy the best george plimpton quotes at brainyquote.
George plimpton was perhaps best known for paper lion, the book that set the bar for participatory sports journalism. Finally, george plimptons paper lion joins a growing body of firstrate writing about sports. Plimpton papers testify, those four areas of activity dominated plimptons public and private lives. The norton book of sports by george plimpton, hardcover. George plimpton was born on march 18, 1927 in new york city, new york, usa as george ames plimpton.