“There are people who would perhaps call me a dilettante because it looks like I’m having too much fun. I have never been convinced there’s anything inherently wrong in having fun.” - George Plimpton
The Senior Issue #7
Issue 7 - November 12th, 2020
This issue was born in concept in May but due to other concerns has taken much too long to pull together. My changing tastes and interests, which seem to vary with the seasons, meant that as time progressed too the initial impetus of inspiration was lost. I thought about hanging it altogether but then looked back and read what I had already prepared and that inspired me to finish what I'd started. Hopefully it might inspire or at least entertain you too. George Plimpton, who is largely at the core of this issue, has been a great inspiration to me throughout my life.
April 25th, 2020
Rights issues have made it difficult to find since its initial release but Plimpton! the wonderful documentary is well worth seeking out. My favourite portion of the film is the touching moment George's son reads his fathers "Things every man should do before he dies" I've reproduced this here. Do look out for the film.
Coca Cola Chaud
April, 2020
The documentary "Paris Review - The Early Years" relates the tale of how the original art director of the Paris Review was convinced that Parisians (despite claiming cultural ascendancy) were prone to copying the tastes of Americans. To test the theory he would order hot Coca-Cola in Parisian cafes to try and start a traceable trend.
Working From Home
April, 2020
Plimpton, like many of us this year, lived in the same building from which the Paris Review was produced for many years. It was also the venue for many of the famed Paris Review literary parties. The NY Times covered the last one...
The Great Man
April, 2020
A wonderful reminiscence of George by Terry McDonnell from his own memoir features on the Paris Review's website. Amongst the highlights - "George couldn’t remember names, especially men’s names, but that didn’t matter. “There’s the great man,” he would say at his parties, and the unnamed guest would beam. “There’s the great man” is how George once greeted a kid delivering a pizza."
Paris Review Back Issues
Although primarily a literary journal The Paris Review achieved a wonderful aesthetic. The early covers are particularly rich and defined a visual style which still echoes in the Paris Review to this day.
Dinner at Elaine's
April, 2020
The website "The Moth" features a wonderful recording of George Plimpton recounting a delightfully funny tale of taking an aspiring writer to Elaine's Restaurant.
April 25th. 2020
Upon turning 41 I wrote this piece about why I'd started writing in the first place.
Bar Hemingway
August 5th, 2020
The Senior's bar stories continue with The Bar Hemingway. This is a long one. Best enjoyed on a large screen device and perhaps with 51 martinis.
Fin!
You've reached the end of this issue. Back issues available below.
If you have any comments, requests or recommendations for future editions please reach out to me via Instagram at @mrharrisonsr
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