“Uncannily current eighty years after its publication.” —The New York Times Set in pre-World War II New York City, A Time of Be Born offers a satirical send-up of city dwellers whose opportunism is only matched by their egotism. The novel revolves around a conniving novelist, Amanda Keeler, and her husband—a wealthy, self-important newspaper magnate. Amanda’s rise to fame as a romance writer is propelled by glowing reviews in her husband’s newspapers of her ghostwritten book. Meanwhile, Amanda entangles Vicky Haven, a newcomer from Ohio, in her web of social and romantic machinations. A blistering “comedy of manners” (The New York Times), A Time to Be Born scrutinizes the ambitions of a certain class of Manhattanites on the eve of world-changing global events. This Warbler Classics edition includes a detailed biographical timeline. Dawn Powell (1896–1965) was a prolific American novelist, playwright, and short story writer. Although she gained a degree of critical success in her lifetime and earned the respect of writers such as Ernest Hemingway (his “favorite living novelist”), E. E. Cummings, Gore Vidal (“our best comic novelist”), and J. B Priestly, her work was not fully appreciated until well after her death. “Powell’s spoof of the high and mighty still sizzles half a century after it was written.” —Publisher’s Weekly “Her best work represents an admirable mixture, not often found, of humour, genuine sentiment (born of compassion), and very shrewd and sharp satire.” — The Village Voice “Powell’s books are more than merely funny; they are full of psychological insights that are at once sympathetic and cynical.” —Edmund Wilson, The New Yorker “A social satirist in a league with Mark Twain.” — The Los Angeles Review of Books "Powell's books are more than merely funny; they are full of psychological insights that are at once sympathetic and cynical." -Edmund Wilson, The New Yorker "Uncannily current eighty years after its publication." -The New York Times "Powell's spoof of the high and mighty still sizzles half a century after it was written." -Publisher's Weekly "Her best work represents an admirable mixture, not often found, of humour, genuine sentiment (born of compassion), and very shrewd and sharp satire." - The Village Voice  "A social satirist in a league with Mark Twain." - The Los Angeles Review of Books Dawn Powell (1896-1965) was a prolific American novelist, playwright, and short story writer. Although she gained a degree of critical success in her lifetime and earned the respect of writers such as Ernest Hemingway (his "favorite living novelist"), E. E. Cummings, Gore Vidal ("our best comic novelist"), and J. B Priestly, her work was not fully appreciated until well after her death.