Wendy Wasserstein Knihy

An enlightening, accessible guide to understanding and appreciating European art from the Middle Ages

The graduating seniors of a Seven Sisters college, trying to decide whether to pattern themselves after Katharine Hepburn or Emily Dickinson. Two young women besieged by the demands of mothers, lovers, and careers--not to mention a highly persistent telephone answering machine--as they struggle to have it all. A brilliant feminist art historian trying to keep her bearings and her sense of humor on the elevator ride from the radical sixties to the heartless eighties. Wendy Wasserstein's characters are so funny, so many-sided, and so "real" that we seem to know them from their Scene One entrances, though the places they go are invariably surprising. And these three plays--"Uncommon Women and Others," "Isn't It Romantic," and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Heidi" "Chronicles"--Manage to engage us heart, mind, and soul on such a deep and lasting level that they are already recognized as classics of the modern theater

Comprised of a series of interrelated scenes, the play traces the coming of age of Heidi Holland, a successful art historian, as she tries to find her bearings in a rapidly changing world. Gradually distancing herself from her friends, she watches them move from the idealism and political radicalism of their college years through militant feminism and, eventually, back to the materialism that they had sought to reject in the first place. Heidi's own path to maturity involves an affair with the glib, arrogant Scoop Rosenbaum, a womanizing lawyer/publisher who eventually marries for money and position; a deeper but even more troubling relationship with a charming, witty young pediatrician, Peter Patrone, who turns out to be gay; and increasingly disturbing contacts with the other women, now much changed, who were a part of her childhood and college years. Eventually Heidi comes to accept the fact that liberation can be achieved only if one is true to oneself, with goals that come out of need rather than circumstance. As the play ends she is still "alone," but having adopted an orphaned baby, it is clear that she has begun to find a sense of fulfillment and continuity that may well continue to elude the others of her anxious, self-centered generation.

Wendy Wasserstein's collection features thirty-five essays that showcase her sharp wit and deep empathy, reflecting her experiences and insights from her forties. Rooted in her New York upbringing, these urbane pieces blend humor with inspiration, making her observations relatable to a wide audience. The essays capture her unique perspective on life, culture, and identity, highlighting her significant contribution to contemporary literature and the arts.

The story centers on the Rosenweig sisters, each navigating distinct life paths and relationships. Sara leads a content, single life in London with her daughter, while Pfeni, a quirky travel writer, grapples with a complicated romance. Gorgeous seemingly has it all with a perfect family in Massachusetts but is drawn into her own struggles. Their reunion in Holland Park rekindles deep familial connections, prompting each sister to reflect on her past and consider her future choices.

In this delicious book of essays, Wendy Wasserstein perfects the urbane, wacky and compassionate sensibility that informed plays like her Pulitzer Prize-winning The Heidi Chronicles

Sloth is a parody of every self-improvement book: instead of providing a manual to a more active and productive lifestyle, Wasserstein offers tips, encouragement and advice toward a successful life of sloth.

Set against the backdrop of post-9/11 New York, this novel offers a sharp comedic exploration of high society through the eyes of Francesca Weissman, a pediatrician navigating the elite social scene. As she encounters a cast of characters, including a socialite, a climber, and a filmmaker, the narrative reveals their extravagant lifestyles and tangled affairs. However, the story takes a poignant turn, exposing the deeper consequences of their choices and the emotional undercurrents of their seemingly glamorous lives.