James Thurber

The author of these memoirs highlighting select incidents during his first twenty or so years of life, Thurber is born December 8, 1894 in Columbus, OH, to Mary Agnes and Charles Thurber. He has an older brother, Herman, and a normally "quiet and self-contained" younger brother, Roy. His paternal grandfather, Clem, lives with the family in the attic, flashing back regularly to his Civil War days. Thurber says nothing about his schooling before college, but much about his sometimes bizarre family. Thurber has 44-45 dogs in his lifetime (through 1933), most bringing "more pleasure than distress." A regular stream of household servants comes through the doors, but only a half dozen make an impression.

During World War I, Thurber attends Ohio State University,but leaves in 1918 without earning a degree. He writes about his difficulties with biology, economics, gymnasium, and obligatory military training. Most of his problems are linked to...