Ogden Nash
Essay Preview: Ogden Nash
Report this essay
Ogden Nash is one of Americas most popular humorists of the twentieth century and one of Americas most quoted poets also. He has coined some of the most popular quotes such as Mr. Feltens favorite quote, “Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.” Nash combines satire, sharp wit, and unorthodox rhymes and has admitted to breaking every grammar law in the English language while making his poems and is well known for it also.
Ogden Nash was born in Rye, New York in 1902 to parents of southern decent. His family was already well known all over that area because his great-great grandfather was the Governor of North Carolina during the American Revolution. Nashville, Tennessee was named for another of Nashs ancestors. Nash grew up on the East Coast of the United States to maintain his fathers import-export business. He attended St. Georges School in Newport, Rhode Island from 1917-1920, upon graduation he attended Harvard University for one year. He then taught one year at his alma mater of St. Georges but left after one year. He then worked as a bond salesman in New York City and quickly found out that he was not suited for any kind of financial jobs. In 1925 he began working for Doubleday, Doran, as an advertising copywriter. In 1931 he married Frances Rider Leonard and soon after published his first book, Hard Lines, which was his first book of humorous verses, it became an instant success, selling out seven printings. He then realized that he was making more money writing poetry than he was working his job as a copy write editor. He the quit his job and became a full-time poet. Nash wrote several screen plays while collaborating with S.J. Perelman on a broadway musical in the late 30s and early 40s and made a guest appearance on a radio and TV show. His popular success came from his volumes of lighthearted and observant verse. Nash continued writing and publishing until he died of heart failure