February House

"At the beginning of World War II some of the day's greatest creative artists rented a house together in Brooklyn - their desire was to create a genuine artistic community, to preserve something against the coming chaos. The result was chaos of their own. The tenants included W.H. Auden, Benjamin Britten, Paul and Jane Bowles, Carson McCullers and Gypsy Rose Lee. Guests to the year long party included everyone from sailors in port to Salvador Dali. Cocktails started at 4.30 and dinner went on all night. The Bowles's fights were legendary, herd over the racket of pianos and typewriters. Auden played mother, colelcting rents and dispensing romantic advice. But out of the chaos came some of these artists' greatest works... Telling an unforgettable story and rich with primary sources, February House masterfully recreates daily life at the most fertile and improbable live-in salon of the twentieth century."--Cover.