The 50 Funniest American Writers

**New York Times Bestseller The creator of The New Yorker’s long running satirical column, and “one of the funniest people in America,” pays tribute to comedic geniuses both past and present, including Mark Twain, George Saunders, Nora Ephron, and more (CBS Sunday Morning).** Library of America’s collection of hilarious stories, essays, and articles is an exclusive Who’s Who of the very best American comic writing. Classic pieces of American humor appear here, such as “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry and a selection from Anita Loos’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Contemporary writing is well represented, with entries from comedic geniuses like David Sedaris, Larry Willmore, Roy Blount Jr., Sloane Crosby, Bernie Mac, Wanda Sykes, and George Saunders plus laugh-out-loud lesser-known pieces from The New Yorker, Esquire, The Atlantic, National Lampoon, and The Onion. Full List of Contributors Mark Twain George Ade O. Henry Sinclair Lewis Anita Loos Ring Lardner H. L. Mencken James Thurber Dorothy Parker S. J. Perelman Langston Hughes Frank Sullivan E. B. White Peter De Vries Terry Southern Lenny Bruce Tom Wolfe Jean Shepherd Hunter S. Thompson Douglas Kenney Henry Beard Bruce Jay Friedman Philip Roth Nora Ephron Michael O’Donoghue George W. S. Trow Fran Lebowitz Charles Portis Donald Barthelme Veronica Geng John Hughes Mark O’Donnell Garrison Keillor Bruce McCall Molly Ivins Calvin Trillin Dave Barry The Onion writers Susan Orlean Roy Blount Jr George Carlin Ian Frazier David Rakoff Bernie Mac David Sedaris Wanda Sykes Jack Handey David Owen George Saunders Jenny Allen Sloane Crosley Larry Wilmore