When Bill Faulkner came to New Orleans he was a skinny little guy; three years older than I; and was not taken very seriously except by a few of us. Thus the late William Spratling; popularly known as the Taxco "Silver King;" recalled the mid-1920s; when Faulkner; a young man fresh from Oxford; Mississippi; roomed with Spratling in Pirates Alley."By the time I would be up; say at seven; Bill would already be out on the little balcony over the garden tapping away on his portable; an invariable glass of alcohol-and-water at hand."A result of their friendship was a book depicting "various people who were then engaged hellip; with the arts in New Orleans." It was based on firsthand observation."There were casual parties with wonderful conversation and with plenty of grand; or later to be grand; people." Some of the names; in addition to Sherwood Anderson; were Horace Liveright; Carl Van Doren; Carl Sandberg; John Dos Passos; Anita Loos; and Oliver La Farge.Spratling supplied sharp caricatures of the people and Faulkner contributed succinct captions and a Foreword. It was all "sort of a private joke;" but the four hundred copies were sold within a week and the original edition is now a collectors item. This book is a charming reminder of exciting days and talented people.
#2756150 in eBooks 2014-07-07 2014-07-07File Name: B00LH6WUKE
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Read this book - youll love it!By JAMKI read Marcels Letters: A Font and the Search for One Mans Fate in one day (and night!) - once I started it; I couldnt stop reading. Now; 3 days later; I cant stop thinking about it. Carolyn Porter pulls the reader in with multiple story lines - first the story of a childhood dream; creating a new computer font (Marcel) based on the handwriting in letters discovered in a Stillwater; MN antique shop - then the story described in the letters of a French family torn apart during WWII when the father was a conscripted laborer in Berlin and the family struggled to survive in France - next; the WWII history to explain their story - and last and most engaging the story of learning what happened to Marcel and to his family as the war ended; and how the letters ended up half a world away in a small town antique shop. I found all of it fascinating. Learning some of the terminology and technical aspects of developing a new font based on handwriting was great for me as a printing hobbyist. (BTW I purchased the new font to use in my printing work; and it is beautiful and complete - using it to the fullest will be a stretch for me; and require learning some new software tools - thats all good!) Learning about WWII and conscripted laborers was new to me. Best was the search for Marcel and his family - so many serendipity moments; seemingly random happenings that help move the search for Marcel along - it reads like fiction - but its all true. What a story! What a book!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A design challenge; a WWII primary; a thriller; and a love storyBy SFAGraphic designer Carolyn Porter takes her reader along with her as she searches to find out what happened to the man whose handwriting consumes her. While designing a font from handwritten letters purchased at an antique store; Porter is pulled into WWII and one manrsquo;s testaments of love for his family. I couldnt resist the pull either and read this book in three sittings. A very satisfying read that will not be forgotten.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Amazing story and full of emotion!By LouI have never read a book so quickly. The story behind Marcels letters drew me in so quickly and emotionally. I was fully engulfed in emotions throughout the book from tears to laughter to nervousness. The stories from WWII that we never heard about were heart wrenching. Very well written as it pulls in present day to the past.
