Romance in the Roaring Forties and Other Stories

Romance in the Roaring Forties was the very first book by Damon Runyon I ever read, and now he's my favorite author! This is a wonderful compilation of Runyon's stories including the ever-popular "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown," which the musical "Guys and Dolls" is based on. This collection, to put it in Runyon's terms, is more than somewhat good! It gives the reader a nice sampling of Runyon's stories and shows you the sheer brilliance of the author, who was able to put the Broadway of the 20's, 30's, and 40's on paper and still make it come alive for the readers of today, decades after the stories were written. The language is priceless, the descriptions are vibrant and never drawn-out, and the narrator (all the stories are in first person) is witty and conversational. They may not be your typical romance stories, but then again, Damon Runyon wasn't your typical author.