Mystery Famous Female Writer Photo

April 16, 2009 12:10 PM

Please Help Me Find This Random Famous-Writer-At-Her-Desk Photo

It's a black-and-white photo. A table with a typewriter on it is on the right side of the picture. She's facing the camera and she looks like she's having a good time. I can't remember who the writer is. I wanted to say Harper Lee, but I can't find a picture of her that looks quite as sassy and lovely as this one did. Fairly certain it's an American writer.

posted by missjenny to writing & language (15 comments total)

The only writer that comes to mind is Dorothy Parker, but I wouldn't say she looks particularly sassy.
posted by alzi at 12:20 PM on April 16

the woman i'm thinking of is younger and...ahem...better-looking. thanks for the guess though!
posted by missjenny at 12:24 PM on April 16

Ayn Rand?
posted by sickinthehead at 12:34 PM on April 16

Here's a nice one of Amy Tan that almost matches, though it is a laptop and doggie instead of typewriter.
There's also this, but it isn't any famous author.
posted by rmless at 12:37 PM on April 16

Perhaps Anne Sexton?
posted by barchan at 12:40 PM on April 16

Sylvia Plath?
posted by specialagentwebb at 12:43 PM on April 16

Margaret Mitchell?
posted by mynameisluka at 12:48 PM on April 16

Doris Lessing? There's a kitty!
posted by alzi at 12:53 PM on April 16

Edna St. Vincent Millay?
Anne Sexton?
This one of Harper Lee?
Carson McCullers? (Here's another one where she's not smiling)
Pearl S. Buck?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:02 PM on April 16

I seem to recall a photo that may fit that description of Alice Sheldon (James Tiptree Jr.) in the fantastic bio of her James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon, but I'll be darned if I can find it any where online.
posted by thebrokedown at 2:14 PM on April 16

You must be thinking of the photo of Grace Metalious on the back of Peyton Place.

One of the best author photos ever!
posted by pluckysparrow at 2:41 PM on April 16

Not American, but Mavis Gallant? (sorry the image is so small: you'll recognize it if I'm right though you won't be able to get a thing from it if I'm wrong.)
posted by roombythelake at 3:24 PM on April 16

I bet you're thinking of the Anne Sexton picture linked above.

If not, maybe Katherine Anne Porter?
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:31 PM on April 16

Is it this picture of Anne Sexton? I have it as a postcard (much larger image) that a friend sent, not even knowing I like her poetry very much. I'm sorry this image is so small. Sexton is American.
posted by Savannah at 8:02 PM on April 16

It is the shot of Anne Sexton. Thank you everyone!
posted by missjenny at 9:47 PM on April 16