The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-23

lady SeCCleu down to prolific writing, to mar riage (with Alan Campbell who also is her literary collaboratorl, to untiring work in democratic causes, to farm life and domestic bliss. The title of her last book is symptomatic of her newly staid way of life. It is Here Lies'- Dorothy Parker.
 Somerset Vaughan who writes on a variety of themes is, no doubt, one of the most scholarly and world-wise authors of the age.
 Yet when Vaughan dropped into Manhattan a short while back and went to the current plays, he frankly confessed at a semi-alcoholic tea that he enjoy ed himself best at "Hellzapoppin," whose humors are chiefly abdom- inal. It turns out that with so- phistication to the fingertips, Vaughan is fanatical fan of low comedy!
 VERY JOLLY
 FISHERMAN
 So much is said of Ernest Hem- ingway's solitary fishing expedi- tions in the waters off Key West that he is shown as 8 lonely fel- low with an anti-social attitude. The local Stork Club clientele knows better, having enjoyed Hemingway's jovial society there. He is tavern faithful, likes con- versation across the par and can get whacking good story out of what others would regard as ban- ality.
 Sinclair Lewis, rebelliously red hair, ruddy complexion, is a nat ural actor who gives 8 better per- formance offstage than on. He walks and talks with athletic agility-and with gestures.
 John Steinbeck whose new nov el, Grapes of Wrath" is hailed as the truly great American novel," reflects in person all that he says in his books, however.
 He writes tales of the little, harried people who eke out their existences in southern California. He has lived among them all his days. He has modest ranch at , Los Gatos which he runs and tills himself, writing when he finds the time. He is unimpressed by his lavish royalties. He viewed Man. haitian with naive wonderment and he was too shy-or busy-to hang around for the Broadway opening of the play version of Of Mice and Men," though that is the most glorious night in an authors life.
 He is of athletic build and for a long time earned his way to lit- erary independence by swinging an axe in 8 California humber camp.
 ALL-AROUND
 AUTHOR
 If Hendrix Willem Van Loon gives you the idea in his volum- inous way that he knows a lot about lot of subjects, then he is being quite unashamedly accu- rate. He is a famed historian, philosopher, commentator, horti- culturist, amateur cook, artist, traveller and gourmet. He is a sought-after raconteur, holding an audience as long as he likes with wide repertoire of stories.
 Portly, thanks mainly to an enormous capacity for excellent beer, he gets around and his friends have wondered for years how he manages to achieve SO much in the brief span of a day.
 Rex Stout whose detective character. the fabulous Nero Wolfe. has replaced the late s. S. Van Dine's Philo Vance as Amer ica's ace fictional sleuth, lives the part himself.
 Wolfe is a connoisseur of malt and hops and superlative beer. So is Stout. Wolfe is a cook of dis tinction, whipping up recipes that have readers mouths watering. Stout is no mean chef himself. Wolfe cultivates some of the finest orchids in the country. So does Stout at his country home up Connecticut way.