Ogden Nash Summary

Ogden Nash (1902-1971) was arguably one of the most commercially successful English-language poets of the twentieth century.Nash's verse skewered the pretensions of the modern middle class existence a... Read more

Critical Essay by William Rose BenÉt [We] feel no hesitation in affirming that in these artless lyrics of [Hard Lines] Mr. Nash is also "a good wrietor." In case—as doesn&... Read more

Critical Essay by Thomas Sugrue The latest collection of Ogden Nash's hymns to Neuros ["Good Intentions"] shows no advance or mutation in technique, but it reflects a more mellow... Read more

Critical Essay by Russell Maloney Nash is the laureate of a generation which had to develop its own wry, none-too-joyful humor as the alternative to simply lying down on the floor and screaming. His ... Read more

Critical Essay by David Mccord At the present writing Mr. Ogden Nash is a household word in this country—at any rate, an apartmenthold word. His verse is quoted, often in mild distortion, much... Read more

Critical Essay by Irwin Edman I think practically all members of families except the dog or the cat will want to read ["Family Reunion"], and having read it, will want to meet the autho... Read more

Critical Essay by Richard L. Schoenwald [You Can't Get There from Here] is another book by Ogden Nash, a volume that has volume, unlike those which enclose a dozen or half-dozen or even a sing... Read more

Critical Essay by Morris Bishop Ogden Nash is the only American except Walt Whitman who has created a new poetic form and has imposed it on the world. The Nashean stanza was foreshadowed, to be sure,... Read more

Critical Essay by Best Sellers Does anyone, nowadays, have to be told to walk (not run) to your nearest bookseller and purchase this latest panacea for whatever ails you? One grieves that [The Old Do... Read more

Critical Essay by The New York Times Book Review The informing material of Ogden Nash's "Hard Lines" is the old material of two decades of American satirists. Like Mencken, Mr. N... Read more

Critical Essay by Ted Robinson   I tore the paper from this volume, from my perfecto jogged an ash,  And, lo and behold, the book was "The Primrose Path" by ... Read more

Critical Essay by Thomas Sugrue Judged by the contents of ["I'm A Stranger Here Myself"], Mr. Nash is about halfway on his journey [from Park Avenue to Main Street]. He is gettin... Read more

Critical Essay by George F. Whicher Clearly Ogden Nash is God's gift to the United States. While writers of dismally serious intent are a dime a dozen, a genuine comic talent is nearly pricele... Read more

Here, Nichols contends that in The Private Dining Room Nash's style and subject matter matures, and, in an interview with the poet, discusses the factors that influenced his development Mr. ... Read more

In the following review of You Can't Get There From Here, Redman reiterates critics' inability to analyze or categorize Nash's verse, while emphasizing his skill in the traditiona... Read more

In the following excerpt, Whittemore singles out Nash for his distinct verse and voice, the qualities by which Whittemore measures 20th-century poets, and describes Nash's legacy to the genre o... Read more

In the excerpt below, Crandell examines the relationship between humor and art in Nash's poetry. For some readers, the term "humorous poetry" is an oxymoron. "Poetry�... Read more

Below, McGinley reviews The Bad Parent's Garden of Verse in verse, imitating Nash's style. (read more) Read more

In the following review of Good Intentions, Tinker comments upon Nash's insight into human nature and his ability to succinctly, accurately, and wittily incorporate those observations into his ... Read more

In this review, the critic lauds Nash's abilities as an ironist and philosopher, in addition to his talent as a humorist. Although it is impossible to appreciate all the subtleties and refin... Read more

In the excerpt below, McCord praises Family Reunion as a collection that appeals to all ages, and feels that it is representative of the body of Nash's work. It may be assumed that Ogden Nas... Read more

In the following positive review of Nash's selected poems, the critic maintains that “it seems true that Nash today looms larger than we'd thought.” [I wouldn't H... Read more

In the following review, Ciardi offers a mixed review of Custard and Company. The gnomes of whimsy must have been at work to arrange for four superlative books of nonsense in a single season. The h... Read more

In the following review, the critic maintains that “this book is a boon for everyone in these troubled times.” With 60 of the late versifier's gems of acuity, this book [A Penn... Read more

In the following essay, Cottle lauds Nash's humorous verse, contending that “he is genuinely observant of what is abidingly and harmlessly funny, he is not sick or bitter, he uses for up... Read more

In the following review of Nash's collected poems, Kermode deems Nash's short, humorous verses tedious yet amusing. I try to imitate him here, but he is probably   �... Read more

In the following review, Clayton offers a positive review of Santa Go Home. At last we know why Santa Claus is “That genial, / Jolly, / Generous donor / Of gifts of which he's not the... Read more

In the following review, the anonymous reviewer provides a laudatory assessment of There's Always Another Windmill. Your true Nash-buff would have to go back and re-read every book of Nash-n... Read more

In the following review, the critic praises Nash's Ave Ogden!: Nash in Latin. Winnie Ille Pu was a runaway success, among the dwindling but noble band continuing Latin studies. Here [Ave Ogd... Read more

In the following review, the critic provides a laudatory assessment of Nash's selected poems. Admirers of the works of the late Ogden Nash, assuming that the oeuvre was locked into the light... Read more