author
Donald Ogden Stewart
1894–1980
A sharp wit of the Algonquin Round Table, he moved from humorous writing and Broadway to Hollywood screenplays, winning an Academy Award for The Philadelphia Story. His career later became part of the larger story of the Hollywood blacklist, adding a poignant turn to an already remarkable life.
2 Audiobooks
A Parody Outline of History Wherein May Be Found a Curiously Irreverent Treatment of American Historical Events, Imagining Them as They Would Be Narrated by America's Most Characteristic Contemporary Authors
by Donald Ogden Stewart
Perfect Behavior: A Guide for Ladies and Gentlemen in All Social Crises
by Donald Ogden Stewart
About the author
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1894, Donald Ogden Stewart studied at Yale and first made his name as a humorist, novelist, and playwright. He became associated with New York's famous Algonquin Round Table, a circle known for its quick minds and literary sparkle, and built a reputation for polished, witty writing.
Stewart went on to a successful career in film, where his elegant, socially observant style suited sophisticated comedies especially well. He is best remembered as the screenwriter of The Philadelphia Story, which won him the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and he also worked on films including Holiday, Libeled Lady, and Love Affair.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, his political commitments brought serious consequences: he was blacklisted during the Red Scare and eventually settled in England with his wife, the writer Ella Winter. He died in London in 1980, leaving behind a body of work admired for its intelligence, wit, and effortless sense of style.