I Thought of Daisy

I Thought of Daisy chronicles a young music critic's experiences in 1920s Manhattan as he navigates the city's jazz scene and cultural shifts. The protagonist encounters Daisy, a working-class dance hall performer whose presence impacts his perspective on art and society. The narrative moves between backstage drama at jazz clubs, intellectual discourse at cafes, and the personal tensions that arise between characters from different social spheres. Wilson's depiction of New York draws from his own time as a critic and cultural observer during the Jazz Age. The story captures a specific moment of transition in American culture, as high society collides with emerging popular entertainment. Through the relationship between the critic and Daisy, Wilson examines class boundaries, artistic authenticity, and the changing role of culture in modern urban life.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this lesser-known Edmund Wilson work. The book has no reviews on Amazon and only 6 ratings on Goodreads with an average of 3.2/5 stars. Readers note the book provides an intimate portrait of 1920s New York jazz culture and bohemian life. Some appreciated Wilson's detailed observations about relationships and social dynamics in artistic circles of that era. Multiple readers found the pacing slow and the protagonist unlikeable. One Goodreads reviewer wrote that the novel "drags in the middle sections" and "the main character's constant self-absorption becomes tiresome." A few readers pointed out that while Wilson achieved fame as a literary critic, his fiction writing appears less polished. Some felt the book reads more like a personal memoir or social document than a fully realized novel. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.2/5 (6 ratings, 1 written review) Amazon: No reviews LibraryThing: 3.0/5 (2 ratings, 0 reviews)

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald Set in 1920s New York, this tale of a young socialite's descent through jazz clubs and artistic circles mirrors Wilson's exploration of bohemian culture and artistic disillusionment.

Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos The interconnected stories of New York characters moving through the cultural ferment of the 1920s capture the same artistic milieu Wilson depicts.

Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West A newspaper columnist's immersion in New York's dark underbelly presents the collision of art, romance, and urban despair that Wilson examines.

Coming Up for Air by George Orwell The narrative follows a protagonist's navigation between high culture and common life, reflecting Wilson's themes of class consciousness and artistic identity.

Nightwood by Djuna Barnes This chronicle of expatriate artists in Paris presents the same modernist examination of culture and desire found in Wilson's work.

🎭 Edmund Wilson wrote "I Thought of Daisy" in 1929, drawing heavily from his own experiences in New York City's bohemian theater scene during the 1920s. 🎻 The book's main character is based on Wilson's real-life relationship with Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the Jazz Age. 📚 The novel was Wilson's first attempt at fiction after establishing himself as one of America's foremost literary critics at Vanity Fair and The New Republic. 🌆 The story captures the vibrant atmosphere of Greenwich Village during Prohibition, including its speakeasies, artistic gatherings, and emerging modernist movement. 🎬 Though lesser-known than Wilson's critical works, the novel provides valuable insights into the cultural transformation of American society following World War I, particularly regarding changing attitudes toward sexuality and social conventions.