Los Angeles has long been a haven for writers, poets, and other creative minds. From Raymond Chandler to Dorothy Parker, many of the world's most renowned authors have made the City of Angels their home. Whether they were drawn by the bright lights of Hollywood or the promise of a new start, these writers have left an indelible mark on the city's literary history. In 1947, Dorothy Parker and her much younger partner, Ross Evans, moved to the Chateau Marmont.
This hotel was a popular destination for writers and artists, and Parker was no exception. She had previously lived at the Garden of Allah, a now-demolished hotel across the street from the Chateau Marmont. Eve Babitz, another brilliant literary light, believed that the “ghosts and furies” of the Garden of Allah had traveled to the castle. Raymond Chandler was another famous writer who lived in Los Angeles.
He worked in a 12-story neoclassical office tower in downtown Los Angeles from the early 1920s to 1932. During this time, he wrote some of his most iconic works, including The Big Sleep and Farewell, My Lovely. The Dunbar Hotel was another popular destination for writers in Los Angeles. The hotel was known for its vibrant atmosphere and impromptu jazz sessions in the lobby. Writers such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston were frequent visitors to the Dunbar.
In addition to these famous authors, Los Angeles has also been home to many lesser-known writers. Joe Donnelly wrote Burdens By Water in the 1990s about his experiences living in Los Angeles. Alan Rifkin wrote The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane about a Chinese adoptive living in Pasadena. Robin Coste Lewis wrote Voyage of the Sable Venus about her experiences growing up in Los Angeles.
Kelly Candaele interviewed construction workers for his book Kevin and the Blackbird. Finally, many authors have written about their experiences living in Los Angeles. Joan Didion wrote about her time living in a dilapidated house in the late 1960s. Catherine Mulholland wrote William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles about her grandfather's role in bringing water to Southern California.
And many authors have written quotes that capture the essence of Los Angeles, from Raymond Chandler to Bette Davis.
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