More than 40 years later, the book is still in print, and still a. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. The book ends with patrick seven year old child being introduce to a much older mame and history will repeat itself. It is also, incidentally, one of the most important books in my life. Nineyear old patrick s handsoff father drops dead unexpectedly leaving young paddy in the newage, swinging twenties hands of his fathers sister auntie mame. It was made into a play, a broadway as well as a hollywood musical, and a. Dennis wrote a sequel, titled around the world with auntie mame, in 1958. Believe it or not, the books are even funnier than the film. May 21, 2012 flamboyance, indulgence, and hilarious adventure are entertainingly amalgamated into patrick denniss much beloved rare book, auntie mame. First a book, then a play, then a musical and a couple of movie versionsauntie mame became a multimedia sensation long before the term was invented.
Flamboyance, indulgence, and hilarious adventure are entertainingly amalgamated into patrick denniss much beloved rare book, auntie mame. The kid who played patrick in auntie mame became a very successful attorney although he projected both charm and talent as the young patrick dennis in the stage and film versions of auntie mame, ultimately dropped out of acting completely to become a successful lawyer. In chronological vignettes, the narrator also named patrick recalls his adventures growing up under the wing of his madcap aunt, mame dennis. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york. Edward everett tanner iii 18 may 1921 6 november 1976, known by the pseudonym patrick dennis, was an american author. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Patrick dennis has 18 books on goodreads with 23523 ratings. Among his sixteen novels, the majority of which were bestsellers, are little me, around the world with auntie mame, tony, how firm a foundation and genius. Set in new york, in the roaring twenties, this hillarious escapede is about a fast talking and clever, yet honest and kind womam. Oct 15, 20 this feature is not available right now. It was made into a play, a broadway as well as a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell.
The final chapters deal with the shenanigans that mame go through to get patrick married. The novel was a runaway bestseller, setting records on the new york times bestseller list, with m. Around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. One of the most eccentric, celebrated, and widely read authors of the 1950s and 60s, tanner wrote sixteen novels in all, a majority of which were national bestsellers. Hopefully the publisher will get a clue and republish some of his other works. Charles, jan handzlik as young patrick and peggy cass as agnes gooch. It changes one as a person, but all for the better. Mame first burst upon the publics consciousness in 1955, with the publication of patrick dennis s classic novel, auntie mame. Mame is a lovable socialite who somehow manages to be both flighty and genuine at the same time. Although many will say dennis writing is a bit dated in the 21st century, i believe auntie mame is a novel that everyone should read. Inspired by his own eccentric aunt, patrick dennis s auntie mame is a madcap comedy, published with an afterword by matteo codignola in penguin modern classics. What do you get when you cross good, clean humour with a surprizing moral statement. First a book, then a play, then a musical and a couple of movie versions auntie mame became a multimedia sensation long before the term was invented.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy auntie mame by patrick dennis online at alibris. Auntie mame is by far one of the greatest novels of the 21st century. From the early days of his misspent youth, auntie mames creator edward everett tanner iii pseudonym patrick dennis was the life of the party. Rosalind russell as auntie mame, with the author of the famous book of the same title, patrick dennis. Its a shame to know after you read auntie mame and around the world with auntie mame that these are the only books in print. Patrick dennis is a great author and his stories transend time and generations. An irreverent escapade was one of the bestselling american books of the 20th century. Edward everett tanner iii spent the last years of his life as a butler, in spite of having been one of the most popular novelists o. Auntie mame by patrick dennis overdrive rakuten overdrive. Patrick dennis the main character and author of this book is just one of the hugelysuccessful pen names of edward everett tanner iii, who once. It was made into a play, a broadway and a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. Auntie mame and i learned to love one another in as brief and painless a period as possible. I have always loved the movie auntie mame with rosalind russell and i have the soundtrack from the musical with angela landsbury.
When auntie mame was first published, i read and reread it and its sequel, around the world with auntie mame for several summers. An irreverent escapade and millions of other books are. Its witty wildean phrases ring in my mind, and its flamboyant characters still enamor me. Patrick dennis 1921 1976 was one of the most widely read american authors of the 1950s and 60s.
Patrick dennis, the fictional narrator of auntie mame and little me, was the pen name of edward everett tanner iii 19211976. Patrick c this book by patrick dennis is about his auntie mame. Adele johnston auntie mame and patrick dennis auntie. With a wit as sharp as a vodka stinger and a heart as free as her spirit, auntie mame burst onto the literary scene in 1. Everyone adored him for his effusive wit, polished manners, and beguiling charm. The kid who played patrick in auntie mame became a very. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. An irreverent escapade by patrick dennis and paul rudnick. Mame takes her young charge firmly in hand by deserting all. Mame is probably my favorite character in any book ever.
Mame first burst upon the publics consciousness in 1955, with the publication of patrick denniss classic novel, auntie mame. The book resembles more the the 1948 classic auntie mame rather than the 1974 lucille ball. Auntie mame, one the 1950s most talkedabout books, a true runaway bestseller and one of the great classics of american humor. But by the early 1960s, after she had been immortalized in auntie mame the novel written by her nephew, edward everett tanner 3d, using the pen name patrick dennis.
Whilst the joyous season is not absolutely top drawer patrick dennis in the mode of his classic auntie mame or his masterpiece little me, it is still a blissfully funny example of that seemingly lost art form, the light comic novel. Auntie mame 1958 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books. Marion tanner, known as model for mame the new york times. Dennis based the character of mame dennis on his fathers sister, marion. Buy auntie mame by dennis patrick from amazons fiction books store. This is a fantastic story about a kind aunt that takes a young man under her wing.
Set in new york, in the roaring twenties, this hillarious escapede is about a fast talking and clever, yet honest and kind womam, told through the eyes of her impressionable nephew. An irreverent escapade by patrick dennis goodreads. Shes selfcentered yet generous, madcap and liberal, wellmeaning and always up for an adventure. Oct 31, 1985 but by the early 1960s, after she had been immortalized in auntie mame the novel written by her nephew, edward everett tanner 3d, using the pen name patrick dennis miss tanner had turned. Sep 25, 2014 auntie mame is the american alice in wonderland. Inspired by his own eccentric aunt, patrick denniss auntie mame is a madcap comedy, published with an afterword by matteo codignola in penguin modern classics. Edward everett tanner, or patrick dennis, ultimately admitted as much. An irreverent escapade ebook written by patrick dennis. Edward everett tanner iii, known by the pseudonym patrick dennis, was an american author. Among many gripping facts about the real people is that the authors aunt, marion tanner, made a small fortune by going on a tv game show and answering questions about her fictionalised version, mame. Read auntie mame an irreverent escapade by patrick dennis available from rakuten kobo. She knows nothing about children but is tasked with raising her brothers ten year old orphaned son, patrick. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook mirrored those of mame, but dennis denied the connection. It is what it is a blissfully easytoread, unapologetically american social comedy, with enough perfectly timed, backhanded slaps at social snobbery, racism and antisemitism to redeem it from total silliness.
The episodic book concerns an orphaned child, patrick dennis, who is sent to live with an aunt he has never before seen in 1920s new yorkand the aunt is mame dennis, a fastliving. Through the eyes of her young nephew, patrick, the boisterous and wildly eccentric figure mame is sketched, and the reader is splendidly hijacked and brought aboard mames wild. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis. Jan 19, 2016 auntie mame is the american alice in wonderland. An irreverent escapade 1955 was one of the bestselling american books of the 20th century. It is full of lighthearted wisdom, heavy satire, and laced with sophistication. The late patrick dennis the pen name for edward tanner was the hugely popular author of auntie mame, and a dozen other books this fall, one of his most hilarious and beloved novels, the joyous season, has been brought back into print. Auntie mame wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. One of the most eccentric, celebrated, and widely read authors of the 1950s and 60s, tanner wrote 16 novels in all, a more about patrick dennis. Among his sixteen novels, the majority of which were bestsellers, are little me, around the world with auntie mame, tony, how firm a foundation a.
They were not memoirs, though that was the pr at the time. Feb 29, 2016 this is one of the funniest fucking books you will ever read. When young patrick is orphaned, he goes to live with a wealthy, unpredictable aunt in new york city. This is one of the funniest fucking books you will ever read. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read auntie mame.